More than 10,000 historic artifacts were seized at the Istanbul home of two people who have been put in detention, Turkish police said Thursday.
“An operation was carried out by our anti-smuggling directorate, and two people were detained. Our cultural heritage constitutes our country’s collective memory and the universal heritage of humanity,” said İstanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız.
According to the DHA news agency the items seized included 3,366 coins and other historical objects reflecting the social life, beliefs and economic activity of the Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.
Turkey has long cracked down on the illegal trade in antiquities. Last year authorities secured the return of 180 looted artworks.
© Agence France-Presse