An attempt to illegally import precious metals at Cappadocia Airport in the Nevşehir province of Turkey was prevented. During the operation, five Uzbek citizens and one Turkish citizen were detained.
They had attempted to illegally bring in more than 61 kilograms of gold. Officers from the Nevşehir police department’s anti-smuggling and organized crime division acted based on prior intelligence.
The suspects—three women and two men, all Uzbek nationals—were on a flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Their baggage aroused the suspicion of airport staff, especially household appliances that were heavier than normal, such as meat grinders and dough mixers, which drew special attention.
Inspections conducted with special equipment confirmed the suspicions. Gold bars, specially concealed, were found inside the kitchen appliances.
They were in the form of metal parts, skillfully camouflaged inside the appliances. The total weight of the seized gold amounted to 61 kilograms and 121 grams.
Turkish officials estimated the market value of this 24-karat gold at 355 million Turkish lira, or about 8.5 million US dollars. This case has been recorded as one of the largest gold smuggling incidents in Turkey in recent years.
In addition to the airline passengers, a Turkish citizen who came to collect the cargo was also arrested. All those detained were taken into custody immediately and, after the initial investigation, sent to judicial authorities.
Additionally, one of the Uzbek suspects was handed over to the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration and is expected to be deported. Currently, investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the gold and its final destination.
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