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An Australian national was caught red-handed at Istanbul Airport attempting to smuggle historical artifacts—including relics linked to Anzac soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign—out of Türkiye.
The operation was part of a broader crackdown in which seven suspects were detained and 2,922 cultural assets dating back to multiple historical periods were recovered.
The Australian suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, claimed that the items in his possession belonged to his ancestors who fought against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Authorities say he had collected the items from the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the infamous Anzac landings took place in 1915.
Among the items seized were 108 war-era objects believed to have been unearthed from Gallipoli, including medals, personal effects, and other Anzac-related memorabilia.
The suspect was stopped by customs officers before boarding an international flight.
Istanbul’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Division carried out six simultaneous operations in Kadikoy, Fatih, and at Istanbul Airport, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals, including the Australian suspect.
Recovered items span thousands of years of Anatolian history and include
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has confirmed that the seized items will be examined, documented, and transferred to three major institutions:
The investigation into the smuggling ring is ongoing.
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