Turkish authorities have detained 76 suspects and captured 4,122 historical artefacts in massive-scale anti-smuggling operations conducted in the country and abroad, local media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, simultaneous operations have been carried out at 108 addresses in 30 provinces across Turkey to capture 92 suspected smugglers, including collectors, according to reports It said so far 76 of them have been detained.
As part of the operations, dubbed Anatolia, 4,122 historical artefacts have been captured in four separate raids carried out at several addresses in Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Serbia, TRT added.
The operations were initiated after Turkish prosecutors reportedly determined that an organised crime organisation illegally transferred historical artefacts from Turkey to be sold in auctions in the US and Europe.
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