Turkish police seize millions of illegal tobacco products and bust $1.7 bn diamond smuggling ring

Police in Istanbul carried out coordinated raids against an organised tobacco‑smuggling network, detaining 22 suspects and confiscating more than 1.7 million empty cigarette rolling papers, 684 000 filled papers, over a ton of shredded tobacco, 1.3 million cigarette‑paper rolls, thousands of illegal cigarette packs and other related equipment.

A separate investigation uncovered a multi‑national diamond‑smuggling operation that moved an estimated 1.7 billion Turkish lira worth of gems from India through Dubai to Turkey. The ring, led by an Iranian national residing in Dubai, used disguised shipments in wireless earbuds, snack bags and shampoo bottles. Turkish authorities arrested several members, including a courier and a senior manager, and seized thousands of diamonds concealed in parcels and electronic‑cigarette devices. The investigation highlighted links to Dubai, Iran and India alongside the Turkish outlets where the contraband entered the country.