Turkey 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report: Adana This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Adana. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in southeastern Turkey. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Turkey country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Turkey at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Do not travel to areas near the Syrian and Iraqi borders due to terrorism. Reconsider travel to Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, Kilis, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sirnak, Tunceli, and Van Provinces, all of which are in the Adana Consular District. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Adana as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Mugging, vandalism, other petty crimes as well as narcotics-related crime occur. Crimes of opportunity (e.g. pickpocketing, purse snatching) may occur more frequently; however, random violent acts of crime are rare. Crime statistics provided by the Turkish National Police (TNP) for Adana province for 2019 include 5,862 thefts, 395 cases of extortion & robbery, 45 homicides, 1,612 vehicle break-ins, and 83 vehicle thefts. There have been reports about the use of sedatives throughout Turkey in sexual assaults by employees (masseurs) in private spas and hotels. When dining out in Turkey, patronize well-established restaurants and always ask to see a menu to avoid inadvertently ordering food or drinks at falsely inflated prices. For more information, review OSAC’s Report Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad. Cybersecurity Issues There have been several reports of financial internet scams victimizing U.S. nationals who transfer sums of money to a supposed friend in Turkey. These scams include fraudulent visas services or fake online romance schemes. In romance schemes, online con artists may communicate and groom victims online over several months, building a romantic interest. The con artists often claim to be U.S. philanthropists in the region, building hospitals and/or schools, or pose as U.S. military personnel traveling through Turkey. After purporting to have an accident, arrest, travel emergency, intention to visit, or other situation, the scammer then request funds from the target. Never send money to anyone with whom you do not have a verified relationship. Additionally, there have been reports of criminal enterprises targeting individuals using unsecured Wi-Fi to compromise Personally Identifiable Information to commit fraud. For a full list of scams, visit the State Department’s International Financial Scams webpage. Turkish authorities have prevented some U.S. nationals from entering or departing Turkey due to social media postings the government perceived to be critical of it or supportive of entities it has designated as terrorist organizations. The Cybersecurity Branch of the Turkish National Police (TNP) explicitly monitors such activity. Travelers should not have an increased expectation of privacy. Remain mindful of social media usage, and refrain from posting information that one could perceive as critical and/or inflammatory to the Government of Turkey. Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Throughout 2019, Adana and other cities throughout the southeast experienced significant road construction projects along major thoroughfares. Though construction often is complete in a short time, traffic disruptions can be abundant, as projects affect large areas, constraining road use. Always drive defensively. Traffic and the threat of accidents provide a daily challenge, and traffic fatalities are high nationwide. Local drivers routinely ignore traffic regulations, including driving through red lights and stop signs, and turning left from the far-right lane, or driving the wrong way down one-way or two- way streets. These and other similar driving practices cause frequent traffic accidents. Use extreme caution while driving at night. Driving after dark, especially in rural areas, presents additional dangers such as livestock on the road or narrow unmarked or unpaved roads. Generally, road conditions are good, especially along major arteries and thoroughfares. However, smaller streets in neighborhoods and in rural areas can be in poorer condition. Driving at night or in inclement weather can be particularly challenging. Pedestrians also flout traffic rules by crossing against the light and walking in the street. Parked vehicles often block sidewalks and driveways. Pedestrians do not have the right of way; exercise extreme caution when crossing streets. Vendors and panhandlers frequently gather at stoplights along major roads and at hotels. Panhandlers can be aggressive. When going through traffic areas with stoplights, lock vehicle doors and roll up windows. Be cautious if a bystander flags you down to indicate a flat tire; drive to the nearest attended gas station before stopping. In case of an accident or car trouble, pull to the side of the road, turn on hazard lights, and use reflector triangles. For accidents with only vehicular damage, exchange insurance information, take photos of the accident before moving the vehicles, and depart if both sides agree. Turkish law requires drivers to fill out a Turkish-language form and provide pictures of the damage. Non-Turkish speakers should call and wait for the police. For accidents with injury or a disagreement, remain at the site of the accident. Do not move the vehicle – even out of the traffic lanes – until the Traffic Police arrive. Report the accident to the Traffic Police (155) or Jandarma (156). Get a certified copy of the official report from the Traffic Police office (this can take several days). The owner of the damaged vehicle should also apply to the customs authority with a passport and accident report before attempting to repair the vehicle or leave the country without the vehicle. When in doubt, it is best to call the Traffic Police or the Jandarma in the event of an accident. Penalties for driving drunk (blood alcohol levels at or above 0.05%) include a fine and a six-month license confiscation. Using cell phones while driving is illegal and can lead to a fine. For stays up to 180 days, a valid U.S. driver’s license is acceptable. For stays longer than 180 days:, obtain a Turkish driver’s license from the Turkish Security Directorate, Traffic Department. Drivers may bring a vehicle into Turkey for up to six months. Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Public Transportation Conditions Adana and other major cities in Turkey have extensive and modern public transportation options, including taxis, subways, ferries, trains, buses, and minibuses. Adana’s rail mass transit system is not extensive, and not widely used by visitors. Municipal buses and private dolmuş minibuses cover most of the city, but can be hard to navigate without some level of Turkish-language fluency. Turkey has extensive domestic and international bus and train routes, as well as air connections. Taxis are plentiful, and most drivers are honest. Only patronize licensed taxis, all of which have meters. Taxicabs are relatively safe and remain highly regulated by the Turkish government. Sit in the back seat, and use the seat belt. Most taxi drivers do not have a high-level working proficiency of English, sometimes making communication a challenge. Foreign travelers have reported taxi drivers using circuitous routes to increase the meter fare. Always ask to have the meter turned on unless you are comfortable with a pre- negotiated flat rate. Do not accept food/ drink from the driver. Record the license or number of any taxi you enter. There are no officially licensed ride-sharing services. Uber and local apps like Bi-Taksi offer the ability to order a yellow or turquoise licensed taxi. As of this report’s publication, at least one telecoms provider has blocked the Uber smartphone app, making it unavailable for download, though the app downloaded elsewhere continues to function in Turkey. Since Uber’s block, there have been reports of an increasing number of “pirate” taxis for hire. Review OSAC’s reports, Safety and Security in the Share Economy and Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Aviation/Airport Conditions Security at Adana Şakirpaşa Airport (ADA) is satisfactory. Throughout 2019, Adana airport and other regional airports experienced shifting levels of security, to include the presence of Turkish National Police, Gendarme forces, and extra private security at vehicle and passenger screening points. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Turkey’s Civil Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Turkey’s air carrier operations. ADA security includes three rings of screening. The first checkpoint is at the airport’s perimeter, where the TNP randomly screen vehicles. The second screening area occurs at the entrances to the terminal building. The third screening area occurs at the entrance to the departures lounge. Private Turkish security firms generally handle traveler/luggage screening. The TNP Immigration Department processes passengers who enter/exit Turkey via international airports. The Customs Department also randomly inspects luggage and other personal items. Terrorism Threat The U.S.