Over 5.6 million smuggled cigarettes seized at Bahçeköy (Kipi) Border Crossing in major smuggling bust
The operation was carried out by teams from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), who stopped a truck bound for France after it was flagged for inspection at the border checkpoint.
A detailed search of the vehicle revealed 280 hidden cartons of smuggled cigarettes concealed within the trailer.
Officials said smugglers attempted to evade detection using a so-called “plug method,” in which legal goods such as ceramic tiles, plates, and coffee cups are placed at the front and sides of the trailer to divert inspection attention, while illicit cigarettes are hidden deeper inside the cargo.
In total, authorities confiscated 5,627,600 cigarettes. The estimated tax and customs losses for the state are believed to exceed €1.15 million.
The truck driver was arrested and taken into custody, with formal charges expected. Authorities are investigating whether the case is linked to a wider international smuggling network.
Officials also noted that the shipment may be part of a broader organized smuggling operation across borders.
