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Turkish Customs Enforcement teams prevented a large-scale cross-border cigarette smuggling attempt through intelligence-led risk analysis and close cooperation with French authorities, resulting in the seizure of nearly 16 tons of illegal tobacco products at a French port.
According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Trade, the Customs Enforcement General Directorate conducts continuous national and international cooperation to combat organized cross-border crime and smuggling, including real-time intelligence and information sharing.
Within this framework, Turkish customs teams carried out intelligence and risk analysis on a container that departed from Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia, transited through Izmir’s Aliaga Port, and was en route to the Netherlands.
The container’s legal cargo was declared as “cigarettes.”
However, Turkish Customs Enforcement teams developed suspicions that the shipment would not be declared at its final destination in France.
Following this assessment, Turkish authorities shared detailed intelligence with the French Customs Administration.
Based on the intelligence provided by Turkish customs, the Marseille Customs General Directorate launched an operation at Fos-sur-Mer Port in southern France.
During the operation, French authorities seized 799,500 packs of smuggled cigarettes, with a total weight of approximately 16 tons. French officials described the seizure as a record-level operation.
A tobacco smuggler connected to the shipment was arrested as part of the operation.
After the operation, French authorities sent an official letter of appreciation to Turkey’s Customs Enforcement General Directorate, thanking Turkish teams for their cooperation and intelligence support.
The Turkish Ministry of Trade said Customs Enforcement units will continue to fight all forms of smuggling at both national and international levels, aiming to combat addiction, protect public health, prevent unfair competition and secure public revenues.
The ministry emphasized that international coordination remains a key pillar in addressing organized smuggling networks operating across borders.
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