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Turkish customs officers at Antalya Airport seized €381,750 (approximately $439,300) in undeclared cash from a passenger arriving on a flight from Paris.
During a luggage inspection, enforcement teams discovered bundles of euro notes carefully hidden inside six baby pull-up diapers packed within a small carry-on suitcase.
The Ministry of Trade verified the seizure, which resulted from a targeted risk-analysis operation by the Antalya Customs Enforcement, Smuggling, and Intelligence Directorate.
"A total of €381,750 in cash was seized, hidden inside baby diapers in the luggage of a passenger who arrived in Antalya from Paris," the ministry statement noted. Authorities have not yet revealed the passenger's identity, including their nationality.
The total value of the confiscated currency corresponds to approximately ₺20,428,129. Following the discovery, the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office immediately initiated a formal judicial investigation.
The legal proceedings are being carried out strictly under the framework of Anti-Smuggling Law No. 5607.
Although there is no ceiling on the volume of foreign currency passengers can legally bring into Türkiye, individuals are under a strict statutory obligation to declare any cash assets totaling €10,000 or more to customs officials upon entry.
Failure to file the necessary declaration paperwork routinely results in the seizure of assets and subsequent prosecution under national financial transparency laws.
Security and financial experts note that anti-smuggling teams have intensified airport checks in response to shifting economic trends.
Driven by an inflation rate that has topped 30% since late 2021, the Turkish lira remains under pressure, sparking a massive surge in local demand for stable foreign currencies like the U.S. dollar and the euro.
Consequently, border control authorities have expanded surveillance and security screenings on flights arriving from major European transit hubs like Paris to curb illicit or undeclared capital flows entering coastal tourist gateways like Antalya.
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