Within the scope of the "Heritage" operation carried out in 38 provinces based in Konya, 143 suspected persons engaged in the smuggling of historical artifacts were identified.
After the "Anatolian" operation against those who smuggled historical artifacts from Turkey to Europe, the smugglers were not allowed in with the "Heritage" operation.
Under the coordination of our Ministry, the teams of the General Directorate of Security, Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Department carried out the biggest operation in recent years against the criminal group that made an unfair profit by sending the historical artifacts they found through illegal excavations to auction houses abroad and selling them.
Within the scope of the investigation initiated by Konya Seydişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the criminal group in question was followed for 1 year. As a result of this follow-up, KOM teams pressed the button of the operation called Heritage to arrest 38 suspects in 143 provinces in the morning today.
They Worked in Four Groups
As a result of the meticulous follow-up by KOM teams, it was revealed how the criminal group smuggled historical artifacts.
In almost every region of Turkey, the criminal group; In order to find historical artifacts in villages, protected areas, and mounds, he encouraged persons called "illegal diggers" to carry out illegal excavations, and that the historical artifacts unearthed by illegal diggers by visiting the region at regular intervals were collected by persons called "collectors" on behalf of the criminal group in question. It was determined that it was sent and sold by "couriers" in auction houses abroad by the person called "marketer", who is the leader of the criminal group. It was revealed that the proceeds of crime obtained from these historical artifacts sold were shared with the people who benefited from this system.
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