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Gendarmerie forces seized over 70 historical objects in an operation in north-western Kocaeli province, the governor’s office said, and reported by Anadolu News Agency.
A total of 77 bronze coins and a Virgin Mary statue, believed to be from Hellenistic and Greek periods, were found in a vehicle stopped in the Korfez district. A judicial investigation was launched against two suspects.
Modern-day Turkey has been home to many ancient civilisations and, hence, is rich in relics. This has attracted smugglers who often plunder tombs and other archaeological sites.
READ: Excavations in Turkey’s Trabzon shed light on history of region