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Türkiye’s trade minister: valued at USD 40 million in illicit e-cigarette products seized over five years

Jan.20
Türkiye’s trade minister: valued at USD 40 million in illicit e-cigarette products seized over five years
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said that over the past five years, authorities carried out 4,589 operations seizing 28,683,985 e-cigarette devices and parts and 1,070,586 grams/ml of e-liquid, valued at TL 1,762,796,000 (about USD 40,544,308).

Key points at a glance

 

• Past five years: 4,589 operations; 28,683,985 devices/parts; 1,070,586 grams/ml of e-liquid; value TL 1,762,796,000 (about USD 40,544,308)

• Last year: 341,837 devices seized, valued at TL 350,405,000 (about USD 8,059,315)

• Last year: 9,759,692 components seized, valued at TL 203,709,000 (about USD 4,685,307)

• Concealment methods: on passengers’ bodies, hidden luggage compartments, and gaps in commercial vehicles

• Online actions: penal measures for 160 websites; access blocked for 26 sites

• Platform liability: fines up to TL 228,000 (about USD 5,244) if unlawful listings are not removed

 

 

2Firsts, January 20 2026

According to Esma Altın, Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said that over the last five years, authorities seized illicit products worth TL 1,762,796,000 (about USD 40,544,308), including 28,683,985 e-cigarette devices and parts and 1,070,586 grams/ml of e-liquid, across 4,589 operations.

 

Bolat said that last year alone, authorities seized 341,837 e-cigarette devices valued at TL 350,405,000 (about USD 8,059,315), and 9,759,692 e-cigarette components valued at TL 203,709,000 (about USD 4,685,307).

 

Bolat said seizures have reached record levels and described concealment methods including hiding products on passengers’ bodies, in hidden compartments in luggage, and in cavities within commercial vehicles. He said inspections use advanced scanning systems and databases and are conducted with maximum diligence.

 

Bolat also said work is underway to prevent illegal online sales of these products. He stated that penal action was taken against 160 websites and access was blocked for 26 sites. He added that e-commerce platforms may face fines of up to TL 228,000 (about USD 5,244) if they do not remove unlawful product content.

 

Photo credit: Esma Altın

 

References:
[1] Rekor yakalama! 5 yılda 1,7 milyar liralık kaçak elektronik sigara gümrüğe takıldı
Also Read:
[1] Turkey Plans to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising Under Revised Commercial Advertising Rules
[2] Police in Turkey's Isparta Province Seize 29 Illegal E-Cigarettes in Special Operation, 1 Suspect Identified

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