Historic operation in Istanbul: Illegal electronic cigarettes worth 310 million were caught

Customs Enforcement teams affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce have added a new one to their operations against smuggling activities that threaten public health and feed the informal economy. As a result of the coordinated monitoring of Istanbul Anatolian and Istanbul European Customs Enforcement Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence directorates, simultaneous risk analysis and field inspections were carried out at two different points of the city.

In line with the investigations, an operation was carried out against a suspicious container arriving at a warehouse in Sarıyer and Ambarlı Port.

As a result of the targeting studies carried out by Istanbul Anatolian Customs Enforcement teams, a warehouse detected in Sarıyer district was subjected to a detailed search. During the raid, 46 thousand 200 illegal electronic cigarette devices were seized, with a market value of 118 million 445 thousand lira.

In the second leg of the operation, Istanbul European Customs Enforcement teams stepped in. A container brought to Ambarlı Port to enter Turkey was subjected to x-ray and physical control in line with risk analysis. During the searches, 95 thousand 900 illegal electronic cigarettes with a market value of 192 million 134 thousand lira were caught hidden in the container.

It was announced that the current market value of the total of 142 thousand 100 devices seized, together with the balance sheets of the two operations, was 310 million 579 thousand TL.

Judicial investigations are continuing in many aspects before the Istanbul Anadolu and Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices regarding the operations recorded as the largest e-cigarette seizure in the history of the Republic.

In the statement made by the Ministry of Commerce on the subject; It was emphasized that the fight against smuggling, which threatens public health, especially young people, and causes unfair competition and tax loss, will continue with determination both at the border gates and throughout the country.

Source: TRT Haber Açık RSS (Gündem) (Open Press / Translated Full Text)