Turkish Customs Intensify Border Checks and Seize Large Quantities of Illegal Drugs and Goods

Customs officials in Turkey warned travelers that, as summer road traffic to the European Union rises, violations such as carrying prohibited animal products, excess cash, cigarettes or alcohol will face heavy fines and possible confiscation. The authorities stressed the need to check current EU regulations before crossing borders, noting that penalties can reach thousands of euros.

In parallel, Turkey’s Customs Guard carried out major anti‑narcotics operations at Mersin Port and the Gürbulak border crossing. Inspectors seized a container from Pakistan containing 12.4 million units of tramadol and another shipment with 1.75 million units of pregabalin. At the Gürbulak checkpoint, dogs and x‑ray scans uncovered 273 kg of methamphetamine from a truck arriving from Iran. The operations are described as protecting public health, combating organised crime and preventing financing of terrorism.