Four Georgians detained for smuggling 239 watches taped to their bodies

ARTVİN – Doğan News Agency

Cihan Photo

Four smugglers of Georgian origin were captured while attempting to smuggle a total of 239 watches, which has been duct-taped to their bodies, at Turkey’s northeastern border on June 22. 

Customs and law enforcement officers caught two male and two female suspects after the alarm of an x-ray body scanner was triggered as the smugglers tried to enter the country through the Sarp border crossing in the northeastern province of Artvin with 239 watches inside transparent plastic bags duct-taped to different parts of their bodies.

While the female and male watches were seized by the customs officers, legal procedures were launched into the detained Georgian smugglers. 

This incident came only a few days after two smugglers of Georgian origin were arrested on June 19 at the Sarp border gate for attempting to smuggle 1.24 kilograms of cesium and 48.23 grams of a mercury-like substance, with a combined estimated market value of $2.5 million.  

After the police questioned the suspects under custody, a 60-year-old Turkish citizen was also detained for his involvement with the smugglers.