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Turkish authorities seized 60 luxury vehicles valued at approximately ₺588 million ($13.9 million) in two separate operations targeting vehicle smuggling and customs fraud, officials announced on Friday.
The first operation, conducted by the Ministry of Commerce's Istanbul Customs Protection Smuggling and Intelligence Department, resulted in the seizure of 10 luxury vehicles worth ₺288 million that had been undervalued through fraudulent invoices.
The second operation, carried out by the Istanbul Police Department's Auto Theft Bureau across 12 provinces, resulted in the seizure of 50 additional vehicles valued at approximately ₺300 million involved in illegal vehicle alteration schemes.
Investigators from the Istanbul Customs Protection Smuggling and Intelligence Department identified nine luxury vehicles in the records of the Yesilkoy Customs Directorate whose values had been artificially lowered through forged documents.
The scheme resulted in ₺46 million ($1.09 million) in public financial losses before authorities intervened. A total of 10 luxury vehicles, worth ₺288 million, were seized during the operation.
The Ministry of Commerce stated on Thursday that the operation aligns with its "Türkiye's Century-Trade's Century" vision of ensuring security in commerce and conducting effective anti-smuggling operations. Investigation into the case continues under the supervision of the Bakirkoy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Ministry of Commerce announced it will continue anti-smuggling operations to protect Türkiye's economic interests and security, prevent unfair competition and safeguard the rights of honest traders.
The second operation, centered in Istanbul, was conducted across 12 provinces, including Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Antalya, Batman, Duzce, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Mersin, Rize, Sirnak and Van on Oct. 21.
The investigation targeted suspects involved in "forming a criminal organization for committing crimes," "forgery of official documents," "qualified fraud," "destruction of evidence of crime," and "violations of the Anti-Smuggling Law," according to police.
Investigators determined that suspects obtained vehicles with severe damage records from accidents, fires and earthquakes, removed chassis and engine numbers through illegal alteration methods known as "change," and applied those numbers to seized and condemned vehicles imported from abroad or obtained from domestic markets.
"These altered vehicles were then sold to generate illicit profits," according to police statements.
The Oct. 21 operation resulted in the detention of 74 suspects across the 12-province area. Police recovered 50 altered vehicles with a market value of approximately ₺300 million.
Additional items seized included unlicensed handguns, pump-action shotguns and 1,249 rounds of ammunition.
After processing, all 74 suspects were transferred to the prosecutor's office. The 50 seized vehicles were displayed at the Gayrettepe Police Department headquarters.
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