The number of detainees in the Grand Bazaar's smuggled diamond operation has risen to 43.

As part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into individuals smuggling precious stones such as diamonds and jewelry into the country, supplying and purchasing them, teams from the Istanbul Police Department raided several businesses in the Grand Bazaar. Ten suspects were apprehended and detained during the operation, and 115 kilograms, 602 grams, 419 milligrams of precious stones, estimated to have a market value of approximately 445,750,000 lira, and 945 pieces of jewelry were seized. Following further investigations, simultaneous raids were conducted at 41 addresses and 23 businesses. The number of suspects apprehended in the operation has risen to 43.

During the searches, 1 kilogram 373.58 grams of various precious stones, 135 pieces of jewelry, 1,132 pieces of precious metal, one blank-firing gun and 109 cartridges, 267 pieces of historical artifacts, and 64 pieces of digital materials were seized, with a market value of approximately 1 billion 250 million lira. The total market value of the seized precious stones was reported to be 1 billion 695 million 750 thousand lira. While the arrests of the suspects are ongoing at the police station, the seized diamonds, precious stones, jewelry, and historical artifacts were exhibited at the Vatan Street Campus of the Istanbul Police Department in Fatih.

UAV

Reporter: News Center