Istanbul police deploy drones to crack down on alcohol consumption

Residents of Istanbul witnessed an unusual police operation that looked more like a scene from a science-fiction film. In the historic Fatih district, police used a drone equipped with a loudspeaker to warn people who were drinking alcohol in a public place.

The incident took place in the Kocamustafapaşa area, near Narlıkapı Street and the historic city walls. During a police inspection of people who were in an area where alcohol consumption is prohibited, a drone appeared.

The drone hovered over the area and issued a warning through its built-in loudspeaker:

«This is a police drone. Alcohol consumption is prohibited in this area. Leave this territory immediately»

According to Turkish media, after hearing the unexpected announcement from above, the people at the scene soon left the area. The moment was captured on video and began spreading rapidly on social media within a few hours.

What was unusual was not only the police raid itself, but also the way the offenders were addressed. Instead of immediately sending a patrol to them, police first used the drone as a means of detection and remote warning.

It later became known that Istanbul police had confirmed the use of a drone in Fatih. According to information reported by Turkish media citing police sources, similar unmanned systems are already being used in the city not only for surveillance but also to issue voice warnings. Some models are equipped with thermal imaging systems, night-vision equipment, searchlights and loudspeakers.

Judging by the latest reports in the Turkish media, the police are not planning to stop experimenting with this format: unmanned systems are becoming part of a broader surveillance and control system in Istanbul.