Minister Bolat: Tobacco products worth ₺1.359 billion seized in Türkiye in 2025

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat disclosed on Saturday that Turkish customs and law enforcement authorities confiscated tobacco and tobacco products valued at ₺1.359 billion in 2025. Speaking at the Customs Guard Directorate’s Year‑End Assessment Meeting in Ankara, Bolat stated the seizures resulted from 2,434 incidents detected through risk analysis, tip‑offs, and routine inspections at border crossings and nationwide joint operations.

Record Success in Narcotics Seizures

Bolat also highlighted a significant increase in drug interdiction, noting that authorities seized 33.6 tons of narcotics worth ₺45 billion in 2025—a 38% rise in quantity and a 47% increase in value compared to previous periods. These operations reflect intensified efforts to combat smuggling and organized crime across Türkiye’s borders and internal trade routes.

Scale of Customs Processing and Personnel

The minister outlined the vast scope of customs activities over the year, handled by 17,000 personnel across 175 Customs Directorates and 35 Customs Guard Smuggling and Intelligence Directorates. In 2025, authorities processed 187 million passengers, 8.4 million containers, 956,000 aircraft, 108,000 ships, 5.1 million trucks, and 5 million passenger vehicles at customs checkpoints and bonded zones.