TURQUIE : 471 artefacts saisis dans le cadre d'une opération judiciaire

471 artefacts ont été saisis dans le cadre d'une opération anticontrebande dans la province de Mersin au sud de la Turquie

A total of 471 historical artefacts dating back to several different eras have been seized in a house raid as part of an anti-smuggling operation in southern Turkey's Mersin province.

Gendarmerie units of the Tarsus district launched the operation after information was received that suspect I. M. was smuggling historical artefacts.

One pin, six rings, eight seals, 24 stone objects, 76 metal objects, one arrow head and 355 coins were confiscated during the raid, while gendarmerie units also found one metal detector.

Suspect I. M. was detained and later referred to the court after necessary procedures were completed at the gendarmerie command.

The province of Mersin tries to protect the city's historical and cultural artefacts with an ongoing project under the coordination of the Governorship, Provincial Gendarmerie Command and the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.

Thousands of anti-smuggling operations are carried across Turkey every year to hinder the illegal sale of historical objects and protect the country's rich cultural heritage.

Source : https://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2017/02/28/471-historical-artefacts-seized-in-anti-smuggling-op-in-southern-turkey