ISTANBUL — Turkish police have seized jewels, precious metals, and antiques valued at more than $30 million during a major operation at Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and busiest marketplaces.
The raids came as part of an investigation into smuggled diamonds that began with the detention of 10 suspects. Acting on orders from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, police expanded the operation, searching 23 businesses inside the 15th-century bazaar and arresting an additional 40 people.
Authorities confiscated 135 pieces of jewelry, over 1,100 ingots of precious metals, and 267 historical artifacts, along with firearms and digital evidence. Turkish media valued the total haul at roughly 1.25 billion liras ($30.5 million).
The Grand Bazaar, established by Sultan Mehmet II following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, is often described as the world’s first shopping mall and remains one of Turkey’s most-visited tourist attractions. Law enforcement attention at the site is not new — just months ago, investigators carried out a separate raid on a precious metals company over money-laundering allegations.