Turkey has bought $21 million in tear gas and pepper spray – mainly from US and Brazil – over the past 12 years, Turkish media reported. The US is known for its exports of crowd control munitions to countries rocked by widespread protest.

In total, Turkey imported 62 tons of tear gas and pepper spray between 2000 and 2012, Turkish newspaper Sozcu reported.

Turkey is currently being rocked by its biggest wave of anti-government protests in years. At least two people have been killed and thousands injured from clashes with police since the protests began on Friday. Videos and images have emerged on social media showing police in riot gear firing tear gas, using pepper spray and physically beating demonstrators.

Ankara has been criticized for its mass crackdown on the protests and its widespread use of tear gas and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.

On Tuesday, the UN’s human rights office urged Turkey to conduct an independent probe into how its security forces have treated the anti-government protesters. “We’re concerned about reports of excessive use of force by law enforcement officers against protestors in Turkey,” UN high commissioner for human rights spokesperson Cecile Pouilly said.

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