16.06.2026 10:31
In a vehicle that exited from Edirne's Kapıkule Border Gate and entered Bulgaria's Kapitan Andreevo customs point, a detailed search based on risk analysis uncovered 5 kilograms and 170 grams of smuggled gold jewelry worth millions of lira.
Customs officers did not allow smugglers trying to cross into Europe via Edirne. A passenger vehicle exiting the Kapıkule Border Gate became the address of a major smuggling operation thanks to the attention of Bulgarian authorities.
"WE HAVE NOTHING TO DECLARE" THEY SAID
According to information received, the incident occurred on the night of Sunday, June 14. A passenger vehicle with Romanian plates exiting the Kapıkule Border Gate reached the Kapitan Andreevo customs checkpoint on the Bulgarian side. The vehicle contained a Romanian driver, a woman of Syrian origin with Romanian citizenship, and a 4-year-old child. The individuals, who appeared to be a family, told customs officers during routine questions that they "had nothing to declare."
RISK ANALYSIS REVEALED IT: 6 PACKAGES OF GOLD EMERGE
Despite the individuals' declarations, the vehicle was found suspicious as a result of risk analysis conducted by customs teams and was taken to a special area for detailed inspection (X-ray and physical search).
During the meticulous searches, a total of 6 separate packages were detected in the vehicle's hidden compartments. When the packages were opened, the teams could not believe their eyes. Exactly 5 kilograms and 170 grams of 21-carat gold jewelry, including rings, medallions, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and chains, were seized.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE INCIDENT
While the smuggled gold jewelry, with a market value in the millions of lira, was confiscated by customs enforcement teams, legal proceedings were initiated against the individuals in the luxury vehicle. It was reported that the preliminary investigation into the incident continues in multiple directions.