05.02.2026 13:50
Teams affiliated with the Ministry of Trade seized 65 luxury vehicles worth 600 million lira after 18 months of surveillance. As a result of the operation, 22 people, including 18 public officials, were detained.
The Ministry of Trade announced that 65 luxury vehicles worth 600 million lira were seized in an operation carried out by the teams of the Sarp Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate. The Ministry of Trade continues its fight against smuggling with the teams of the Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate. In this context, as a result of 18 months of technical and physical surveillance conducted by the teams of the Sarp Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate, it was determined that vehicles were illegally brought into the country.
18 PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND 22 SUSPECTS DETAINED
In the operation initiated regarding the vehicles that completed their entry procedures into the country by presenting fake retirement documents, conducted jointly by the Kemalpaşa District Gendarmerie Command and the Sarp Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate, 22 suspects, including 18 public officials involved in the irregularity, were detained for violating the Law on Combating Smuggling No. 5607 and for bribery offenses regulated in the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237.
In a statement made by the Ministry, it was noted that the investigation is ongoing under the Hopa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and it was also reported that the Customs Enforcement Organization will continue its efforts to protect Turkey's economic interests and security, prevent unfair competition, and safeguard the rights of our honest traders.