In a significant crackdown on an international illegal antiquities trafficking ring, the Turkish Minister of Interior, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, announced that 47 suspects have been apprehended in operations across 24 provinces, centered in İzmir.
The operations, dubbed “DEFİNE-1,” were conducted under the coordination of the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department of the General Directorate of Security. A joint effort spearheaded by the Anti-Smuggling Crimes Unit of the İzmir Police Department led to these arrests. The criminal activities included trafficking ancient artifacts excavated illegally from Turkish soil and selling them to auction houses abroad, primarily in Europe and the United States.
The comprehensive operation covered the provinces of Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Eskişehir, Hatay, Isparta, İstanbul, Karaman, Konya, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Nevşehir, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Samsun, Sivas, Tekirdağ, Trabzon, and Aydın. Investigations revealed that the suspects, members of an organized crime syndicate, funneled illegal proceeds by selling the artifacts abroad. Financial records showed that approximately 72 million TL, at current exchange rates, was wired to the main suspect, known as the “Pazarlamacı,” and his family from five different auction houses operating in Europe and the USA.
Furthermore, authorities discovered the network’s role in smuggling 1,057 Turkish-origin antiquities, which were seized in Croatia in 2020 and subsequently repatriated.
The seized items from the operations include 6,325 coins, 997 miscellaneous artifacts, 5 metal detectors, 2 unlicensed shotguns, 1 unlicensed handgun, and numerous rounds of ammunition.
Commenting on the operation, Mr. Yerlikaya emphasized, “We will not allow traffickers to harm our historical and cultural heritage by smuggling artifacts abroad. We are determined to apprehend all those responsible and bring them to justice. I commend the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and our heroic police officers for their efforts. May God protect them, and our nation’s prayers are with them.”