Police in Istanbul recovers 931 stolen Byzantine, Ottoman artifacts

Istanbul police seized 931 historical artifacts in a large-scale operation targeting illegal antiquities trafficking.

Officers arrested 6 suspects in Fatih and Kucukcekmece between January 8 and 25.

Undercover police officers posing as buyers arrest suspects

The Istanbul Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling Crimes Branch launched the operation under the “2863 Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets.”

Officers tracked traffickers and caught two suspects attempting to sell coins on social media. After reviewing the coins, police detained the suspects. Authorities then raided four addresses, arresting four more individuals.

"Our teams conducted successful operations against cultural property smuggling, resulting in six arrests and the recovery of 931 historical artifacts," Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yildiz stated.

Istanbul police seized 931 historical artifacts, including Seljuk coins, Christian icons, Ottoman-era tiles, a Roman statue piece, and Byzantine glass ornaments, in an anti-smuggling operation that led to six arrestsi Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)

Seized artifacts include rare coins, religious icons, and Ottoman-era relics

Investigators seized several historical artifacts, each with significant cultural and historical value.

• 81 silver coins from the 13th-century Anatolian Seljuk period, engraved with the lion and sun emblem
• 184 wooden and silver-plated icons depicting Jesus, Mary, and Christian saints, believed to be stolen from churches
• 35 tile pieces taken from Ottoman-era mosques and madrasas, classified as foundation (vakif) properties
• A marble statue leg traced to an ancient Roman or Greek city
• Seven glass ornaments typically found in Byzantine sarcophagi

Authorities suspect these objects were illegally obtained from archaeological sites and religious structures.

Istanbul police seized 931 historical artifacts, including Seljuk coins, Christian icons, Ottoman-era tiles, a Roman statue piece, and Byzantine glass ornaments, in an anti-smuggling operation that led to six arrestsi Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)

Police display historical artifacts at headquarters before transferring them to museums

Following the operation, police displayed the seized artifacts at the Istanbul Police Department’s Vatan headquarters. "The fight against historical artifact smuggling continues with full commitment," Yildiz emphasized.

Officials confirmed that the artifacts would be transferred to the Hagia Sophia Museum, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, and the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

The suspects remain in custody as investigators examine how they obtained the artifacts and whether they planned to sell them abroad.