Kocaeli-led smuggling operation nets 13 suspects across seven provinces

Police in Kocaeli launched a coordinated smuggling operation across seven provinces on November 10, 2026. Thirteen suspects were detained during simultaneous raids coordinated by the Gebze Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators said trucks brought from abroad had their license plates and chassis numbers altered before being sold in Turkey. Tracking systems installed at customs entry points were also removed to hide the vehicles' movements.

“The suspects were linked to 20 separate incidents.”

Authorities determined that some vehicles were taken to Konya, dismantled, and used as spare parts. Others had their chassis data replaced with information from registered vehicles in a method known as "change."

Officials seized two tractors and three semi-trailers directly linked to smuggling activities. Six additional tractors were seized after their chassis information was processed using the same identity-switching method.

The investigation linked the suspects to 20 separate incidents. Technical surveillance, fieldwork, license plate recognition records, base station data, and criminal examinations supported the case.

A suspect already imprisoned for another crime was included in the legal proceedings, bringing the total number of people processed to fourteen. Sakarya was among the provinces where the operation took place.

The Gebze Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch and the Kocaeli Customs Protection, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate carried out the technical monitoring and field work.