Istanbul police detain two over artifact smuggling

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Police in Istanbul have detained “at least two people” during an operation against smugglers of historical artifacts, according to a police source on April 30.

Simultaneous raids were launched in two districts after police units from the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime conducted operations to prevent the artifacts from being smuggled out of Turkey, the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, told state-run Anadolu Agency.

Some 4,567 gold and bronze coins dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods, six bronze plates from the Islamic period, 251 archeological objects, and four treasure-hunting tools were seized in the operation.

The artifacts will be sent to the Directorate of Istanbul Archaeology Museums.

The suspects have been released by court pending trial.