Turkish police seize large collection of historical artifacts across Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) — Turkish police have seized a large collection of historical artifacts spanning multiple empires and centuries in a series of operations across Istanbul, the Istanbul Directorate of Security said Tuesday.

Two suspected smugglers were detained during operations conducted between Nov. 11-21 in the Fatih district, the directorate said on social media platform X.

Among the recovered items were 150 coins varying in date, size, and origin, as well as 334 Christian religious icons, it said.

Additionally, police uncovered 63 items dating back to the 17th-20th centuries, including weapons, glassware, jewelry, ring stones, and documents written or illustrated on materials such as papyrus, parchment, and metal, it said.

Officers also seized a set of silver spoons believed to date back to the late Ottoman period, along with seals from the late Ottoman and early Republican eras and ceramic tiles produced in the renowned Kutahya and Iznik workshops in Türkiye, it said.

Other significant findings include several Ottoman fortress rifles and ivory objects thought to depict religious figures, it said.

The seized artifacts will be delivered to three museum directorates in Istanbul, it added. ■