Authorities Seize 144,280 Packs of Smuggled Cigarettes on Ship near Zeytinburnu Coast
A ship off the coast of Zeytinburnu was found to be carrying a large quantity of smuggled cigarettes, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce. Customs Enforcement teams identified the ship as high risk after analyzing data from the Ministry’s Ship Tracking systems.
Even though the ship’s customs arrival notification indicated it was empty, a search uncovered 144,280 packs of unbranded smuggled cigarettes hidden in the ship’s manhole covers and tanks. The market value of the seized cigarettes was estimated to be 8,767,572.41 Turkish liras.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against the suspects on board the ship. The Ministry continues to crack down on illegal smuggling activities to protect the country’s economy and public health.
