$553M in smuggled goods stopped by Turkish customs

By Muhammed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA

Turkish customs officials seized smuggled goods worth more than 1.7 billion Turkish liras ($553 million) in the first nine months of the year, the Customs and Trade Ministry said Monday.

The items included electronic components, tobacco, alcohol, food, drugs and luxury vehicles, the ministry said. The value of smuggled goods fell by 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Luxury cars accounted for 138 million liras ($45 million) -- a 123 percent rise on the first nine months of 2015.