Historical artifacts seized in major ops targeting illegal online sales in Türkiye

The Elazig Police Department on Wednesday seized the artifact in major operations, confirming the authenticity of historical artifacts listed for sale on “sahibinden.com.”

The items were advertised under the title “Ancient Historical Artifacts from B.C.” They include spearheads and axes. Law enforcement transferred them to the Elazig Museum Directorate for further examination.

Successful operation against cultural heritage smuggling

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Anti-Smuggling Department is working to recover artifacts illegally taken from Türkiye.

A specific sale on “sahibinden.com” featured one spearhead and three axe heads offered by an individual identified as C.D. for ₺2.5 million ($73,000) on August 18, 2024.

The operation was initiated after a tip-off from Cemil Karabayram, President of the International Strategy Development Research Association (USKAD) and an expert in conservation and restoration.

“Upon my alert, the Elazig Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling Unit acted quickly, leading to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the artifacts,” Karabayram stated.

He confirmed that a report had been prepared for the court, establishing the authenticity of the items.

Historical artifacts hold greater value than listed price

Cemil Karabayram noted that the worth of these cultural heritage items significantly exceeds their sale price.

“These artifacts were listed for ₺2.5 million ($73,000), but their true value is much higher. They are exceptionally well-preserved materials with a history dating back to 2000 B.C. from the unique region of Tunc Mountain,” he explained.

While assigning a specific value to such artifacts is challenging, Karabayram emphasized their immense cultural significance.

“Fortunately, we identified the sale, reported it, and successfully returned these items to their homeland. There is often a risk of these treasures being lost, especially as smugglers sometimes attempt to transport them abroad.”

This incident highlighted the ongoing challenges in protecting Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage.

Authorities remain vigilant against the illegal trafficking of historical artifacts, conducting frequent operations to safeguard these invaluable treasures for future generations.