Police in Istanbul have seized an estimated $30 million worth of jewels and antiques from businesses in the city’s historic Grand Bazaar, as part of an investigation into smuggled diamonds.
The operation began after 10 suspects were initially detained for illegally bringing gems into Turkey, Turkish media reported Wednesday. Acting on orders from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, police subsequently raided 23 businesses in the 15th-century covered marketplace, arresting a further 40 people.
