Smugglers Caught Trying To Sell Roman Statue
Turkish smugglers have been caught in the act by Gendarmerie teams when they tried to sell a valuable Roman-era statue.
Turkish Gendarmerie teams received the notification that two alleged smugglers, identified with their initials as A. B. and M. E. B., had a historical statue that they intend to sell in the district of Mudanya in the north-western Turkish province of Bursa.
Gendarmerie teams started watching the smugglers’ vehicle. During the surveillance operation it was determined that the suspects were going to sell the statue in a restaurant in the neighbourhood of Kumyaka. Local news website Bursada Bugun reported that the gendarmerie teams raided the restaurant and caught the suspects in the act.
The estimated USD 100,000 worth of Roman-era figurine that was captured by the police when it was about to be sold by two alleged smugglers, identified with their initials as A. B. and M. E. B., in Bursa, Turkey. (Newsflash)
The small bronze statue they were trying to sell was handed over to the Bursa Museum Directorate teams who have already determined it to be from the Roman era. Experts and now working out its history and where it may have come from but have confirmed it was Roman and estimated to be worth around USD 100,000 (GBP 72,602).
Local news website Haber Turk reported that two suspects were detained and taken to the police station for their statements to be taken.
The estimated USD 100,000 worth of Roman-era figurine that was captured by the police when it was about to be sold by two alleged smugglers, identified with their initials as A. B. and M. E. B., in Bursa, Turkey. (Newsflash)
It is not yet known whether the statue will be opened to the public and exhibited in the museum.
