17.11.2025 21:25
At the border gate of Greece's Lesbos Island, which has seen a surge of Turkish holidaymakers due to the visa-on-arrival application, a couple from Ayvalık experienced an unpleasant incident. The Yoldaş family, who wanted to spend 5 days vacationing on Lesbos Island, were handcuffed and taken into custody by the Greek police due to the 22 packs of cigarettes they brought with them. Even a bottle of water was only given to the couple after long pleas.
The Ayvalık couple, Yoldaş, who went on vacation to Lesbos Island with a visa-on-arrival application, was subjected to a scandalous treatment. The couple was handcuffed and detained by the Greek police due to the 22 packs of cigarettes they brought with them. They were only able to get a bottle of water after long pleas.
CIGARETTES BECAME A PROBLEM
Emin Yoldaş (45) and his wife Sema Çelikkaya Yoldaş (40), who live in Ayvalık, bought three cartons of cigarettes from the free shop at the Ayvalık Sea Border Gate while going on vacation to Lesbos Island, where their grandfathers came during the Exchange period. The couple distributed 8 packs of the cigarettes they bought to their friends and went to Lesbos Island with the remaining 22 packs of cigarettes.
ONE NIGHT IN DETENTION
At the Lesbos Island Border Gate, Customs Director Katarina Apostolidou, who conducted luggage and body searches of Turkish tourists along with her staff, saw the 22 packs of cigarettes in the Yoldaş couple's suitcase. Apostolidou stated that normally 4 packs of cigarettes are allowed, confiscated 18 packs, and imposed a fine of 1500 euros. Not stopping there, the Greek Customs Director ensured that the Yoldaş couple was handcuffed and sent to the detention center under police escort.
Emin Yoldaş and his wife Sema Çelikkaya Yoldaş, who were handcuffed in front of other Turkish tourists, were kept in the detention center with cold and unfavorable conditions until morning.
During this process, the Yoldaş couple, who were not even given food, could only get a bottle of water after long pleas.
BOTH COVID AND PANIC ATTACK
Emin Yoldaş, who spent the night in the cold detention center, contracted Covid-19 upon leaving the detention center, while his wife Sema Çelikkaya Yoldaş experienced a panic attack in the detention center.
THEY COMPLAINED TO CIMER
The Yoldaş couple, who were subjected to mistreatment, reported the injustice they experienced to CIMER when they returned to Ayvalık, and then informed the consulate on Rhodes Island, where visa and other transactions for Greece's Aegean Islands are carried out.
WE WERE TREATED LIKE SMUGGLERS
Emin Yoldaş, describing what they experienced, said, "Customs officials came to our vehicle in Lesbos. As per the procedure, they asked what was in the vehicle. I said there were 3 cartons of cigarettes. Then they started searching. They said the cigarettes they took out of the luggage were 'inappropriate' and treated us like smugglers. Until around 10:00 AM, even though there was no one else processing at the border gate, they did not finish our transactions until their shift ended. Later, they called the police, who handcuffed us and took us to the police station in a humiliating manner in front of Turkish citizens entering Lesbos Island at that time. We stayed in the detention center for about a day. The conditions in the detention center were very bad. It was very cold. The mattresses we sat on were very dirty. There was an inhumane scene inside. We were incredibly cold in that detention center. We wanted food. They did not give us food throughout the night. We wanted water. Despite our pleas, a police officer brought water around 2:00 AM. We had a very bad day," he said.
"WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS"
Sema Çelikkaya Yoldaş, Emin Yoldaş's wife, also stated that what they experienced was a violation of human rights, saying, "We stayed one night in the detention center. The detention center was under very bad conditions. It was very cold. We needed food. I told them my husband is diabetic. However, instead of giving us food, they gave us between 20-25 euros and said, 'You can eat with this tomorrow.' We were absolutely not given food during the detention period. A police officer provided us with water at 2:30 AM as a result of my pleas. Our needs for the toilet were also addressed very late," she expressed.
Sema Yoldaş emphasized that this treatment has been inflicted on many Turkish tourists before.
STRONG REACTION FROM THE GREEK GOVERNOR TO THE CUSTOMS DIRECTOR
It was learned that Konstantinos Moutzouris, the Governor of Greece's North Aegean Region, reacted strongly to Lesbos Customs Director Katarina Apostolidou after being informed of the situation by friends who traveled to Lesbos with the Yoldaş couple.
The visa-on-arrival application was initiated by Governor Moutzouris's efforts, and Greece had generated significant revenue from Turkish tourists flocking to the Aegean Islands. It is reported that Moutzouris is concerned that such exaggerated actions could lead to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.