Historical Operation by Ankara Provincial Police Department Anti-Smuggling Crimes Branch Directorate
Ankara Provincial Police Department Anti-Smuggling Crimes Department teams carried out an important operation aimed at protecting cultural and natural assets and preventing smuggling. As a result of the teams’ work, an operation carried out on 1 house and workplace was determined in Çankaya district. While the identified suspects have not been caught yet, 223 historical objects thought to belong to the Ottoman Empire period were seized as a result of the searches.
Among the items seized during the operation, the most notable is a declaration dated July 26, 1872, thought to have been sent by the 32nd Ottoman Sultan, Sultan Abdulaziz, to the Governor of Trabzon, Galip Bey. In addition, there are three American-made guns, 60 keys, silver materials used in the Ottoman palace kitchen, silver gunpowder flask, silver bridal belt, medallions of achievement, silver bracelets, pocket watches, silver safes, a necklace with a cross sign , and a large number of silver jewelry, medallions and coins used by women during the Ottoman period, thought to date back to the 1850s.
It was stated that the Ethnography Museum Directorate will conduct an examination to determine the quality and value of the seized crime elements.