Turkey, Bulgaria arrest 16 over artifact smuggling

By Aykut Karadag

ANKARA (AA) – At least 16 people have been arrested in Turkey and Bulgaria in operations against historical artifact smugglers, Turkish police said on Wednesday.

Turkish anti-smuggling and organized crime teams conducted simultaneous operations with Bulgarian police.

While six suspects were arrested in Turkey, another 10 were arrested in Bulgaria, the police said.

Turkish police seized over 1,300 historical artifacts, four coin molds, and four metal detectors in operations at the suspects’ residences and workplaces.

Bulgarian police also seized 2,000 historical artifacts in operations at the suspects’ homes and offices.

In addition, 834 historical objects, reportedly meant to be smuggled out of Turkey, were seized at Turkish border gates, while 1,400 historical objects, reportedly set to be smuggled further into Europe, were seized at the Bulgarian border, the police said.