'Turkish customs successfully fighting smuggling'

By Zeynep Cetinkaya and Baris Kahraman

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish customs officials made great strides in the fight against smuggling last year, the country’s trade minister said on Wednesday.

Customs procedures continue to be of critical importance in terms of both trade and development of the global economy, Ruhsar Pekcan said in her address at the World Customs Day Event and Award Ceremony held at the ministry.

“Despite the fact that economic activity and mobility decreased on a global scale due to the coronavirus pandemic, we had many record-breaking seizures in our customs,” she said.

“In order to maintain the highest level of service quality in customs processes and to improve it at all times, we closely follow advances in technology and have implemented many technology-oriented projects,” the minister added.

Owing to its central geographical location, Turkey sees an extensive flow of legal and illicit goods, and is part of numerous bilateral and multilateral anti-smuggling operations.