Turkish-Greek border operation uncovers 7,000 historical artifacts
Turkish customs authorities have seized more than 7,000 historical artifacts during two anti-smuggling operations at the Ipsala and Kapikule border crossings in Edirne, northwestern Türkiye, preventing the cultural objects from being taken out of the country.
The operations were carried out by Customs Enforcement teams under the Ministry of Trade, with officers discovering ancient coins, arrowheads, rings and other accessories concealed inside trucks.
The seized objects were confiscated, and judicial investigations were launched by the relevant public prosecutors’ offices.
X-ray scans reveal concealed artifacts
At the Ipsala Customs Gate, which connects Türkiye with Greece, officers selected a truck preparing to leave the country for an X-ray inspection after identifying potential risks.
The scan revealed suspicious concentrations inside the vehicle. A subsequent search uncovered coins, arrowheads, rings and other accessories hidden in a storage cabinet used for food and supplies inside the truck’s trailer.
A separate inspection at the Kapikule Customs Gate, another major crossing in Edirne, led to the discovery of additional historical objects.
Customs officers directed a second truck for X-ray screening and found undeclared coins believed to qualify as cultural heritage artifacts.
Authorities confiscated the objects recovered from both vehicles and initiated judicial proceedings to investigate the suspected smuggling attempts.
Türkiye steps up cultural heritage protection
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy welcomed the operations, stressing the importance of cooperation between government institutions in combating the illegal trade in cultural property.
In a statement shared on social media, Ersoy said efforts to recover artifacts previously smuggled abroad must be accompanied by measures to prevent historical objects from leaving Türkiye illegally.
“Every artifact is a unique legacy that retains its meaning in the land to which it belongs and strengthens our connection with the past,” he said.
The minister thanked Trade Minister Omer Bolat and the Customs Enforcement teams for their vigilance and thorough inspections.
Ersoy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s cultural heritage through coordinated action by public institutions.
The latest seizures highlight the role of border inspections in disrupting cultural property smuggling and preserving historical objects for future generations.
Source-Photo:Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry
