More than 142 thousand electronic cigarettes were seized in two operations in Istanbul

According to the written statement made by the Ministry, the operations carried out as a result of the coordinated work of the Istanbul Anatolian and Istanbul European Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate teams once again demonstrated the importance of risk analysis, targeting and effective field inspections in the fight against smuggling.

Accordingly, as a result of the risk analysis and targeting studies carried out by the Istanbul Anatolian Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate teams, a detailed search was carried out in a warehouse in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul. During the searches, 46 thousand 200 electronic cigarette devices with a market value of 118 million 445 thousand liras were seized.

Within the scope of the work carried out by the Istanbul European Customs Enforcement Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate teams, a container arriving at Ambarlı Port to enter Türkiye was checked as being considered risky.

95 thousand 900 electronic cigarette devices with a market value of 192 million 134 thousand lira were seized in the container.

Thus, the market value of a total of 142 thousand 100 electronic cigarette devices seized in two operations was calculated as 310 million 579 thousand lira. The operations were also recorded as the largest e-cigarette seizure in Türkiye's history.

Investigations regarding the operations are continuing before the Istanbul Anadolu Cumhuriyet and Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices.

The Ministry of Commerce continues its fight against smuggling activities that threaten public health, especially young people, feed the informal economy and lead to unfair competition.

While smuggling is prevented through effective inspections, advanced risk analyzes and target-oriented operations carried out at customs gates and all over the country, efforts continue to protect the security of the economy and public health.