ISTANBUL, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police seized thousands of historical artifacts during a major operation spanning 14 provinces on Thursday.
According to the NTV broadcaster, the operation was part of an investigation launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Bayburt, a province in Türkiye's Black Sea region, to crack down on the illegal trade of artifacts and unauthorized excavations.
During the operation, authorities confiscated 3,072 coins from the Ottoman Empire, 178 coins from the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) period, and various other historical objects. In addition, the police seized a painting believed to be by world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso.
The coins and artifacts were illegally excavated from ancient sites in Türkiye's eastern and southeastern Anatolia regions, NTV noted. Some of these items were also being prepared for export abroad.
The broadcaster added that 21 suspects were also detained, of whom 19 were released after providing their statements, while the court granted probation to two other suspects. ■
