During the operation carried out at Sabiha Gökçen Airport by the Customs Enforcement teams of the Ministry of Commerce, approximately 5 kilograms of gold were seized, impregnated with clothes.
According to the statement made by the Ministry, a foreign national passenger was closely followed within the scope of the risk analysis studies carried out by the teams of the Istanbul Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate and the Sabiha Gökçen Customs Directorate teams at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The luggage accompanying the passenger was subjected to x-ray scanning and checked. After no suspicious density was found in the suitcase, a search was initiated on the passenger. During the search, it was noticed that the clothes on the passenger were heavier and harder than normal.
Upon opening the lining parts of the passenger's clothes, who were taken to a closed and safe area for a detailed search, it was found that materials similar to sponges were found inside. As a result of the examinations, it was understood that the said sponges were impregnated by powdering gold and that it could be brought back to its solid form by processing at high temperatures. As a result of the weighing and determination processes, approximately 5 kilograms of gold were seized.
The investigation into the incident continues before the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.