Turkish police apprehended six drug traffickers who were about to transport 142 kg of heroin to the Netherlands, officials said on Friday.

Narcotics police have followed a drug gang for six months in Turkey and launched an operation in Catalca town of Istanbul.

Police teams stopped a car with a foreign licence plate and found 11.3 kg of heroin stashed in hidden parts of the car.

A couple travelling in the car was detained, police said.

Following the operation in Istanbul, police teams launched another operation in western province of Duzce as a follow-up to the first operation. Police raided a depot where they found a huge heroin stash, around 130 kg.

Four more people were also detained in the ensuing operation, police said.

AA