ANKARA: Customs officials on Tuesday seized the largest consignment of smuggled cigarettes in the history of modern Turkey, the government said.
“When the smuggled cigarettes were seized in the operation, the largest shipment of cigarettes recorded in Turkey’s history was prevented,” the Customs and Trade Ministry said in a statement.
Five trucks carrying 3.5 million cigarettes worth 22 million Turkish liras ($7.9 million) were seized at the Sarp crossing on Turkey’s northeastern border with Georgia.
Customs officers arrested 15 suspects, including five customs guards, on Tuesday evening.
Teams from Sarp Customs Enforcement and Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate carried out the operation against an organized smuggling gang, the ministry said.
In an investigation spanning three months, the vehicles were monitored as they crossed the border. The arrests were carried out after the customs team learned that a substantial amount of cigarettes were due to cross in early August.
Those detained included the customs guards – who were suspended from duty – organizers, brokers and drivers.
