Turkey: 270 historical artifacts seized

By Esber Ayaydin

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces on Monday seized historical artifacts comprising mainly of coins during anti-smuggling operations, sources said.

Police acted on a tip off they received about two people trying to sell the artifacts in the Aegean province of Izmir, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restriction on speaking to the media.

In a raid at their residence, police seized 120 historical artifacts, of which most were gold, silver and bronze coins from the Roman, Byzantine and Helenistic era.

Separately, in eastern Erzurum province, gendarmerie forces seized 150 coins which are thought to belong to Venetian period, according to a statement from the governor's office.

The seized historical objects were handed over to Erzurum Museum.

* Ilhami Erkilic contributed from Erzurum.