58,000 Live Animals Seized in Customs Operations
· AA Tarım & Ekonomi
Customs Protection teams seized 58,519 live animals in operations conducted in 2026, handing them over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and conservation units.
Live Animal Smuggling Operations at Customs
A total of 58,519 live animals were seized in 29 separate operations conducted by Customs Protection teams in 2026 as part of the fight against smuggling.
The Ministry of Trade issued a statement regarding the inspection and handover processes, stating:
"Live animals seized in customs areas and sites are inspected by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry personnel at veterinary border control points. Following the issuance of a report, they are then handed over to the relevant provincial units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Furthermore, in cases where species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are detected being smuggled, these species or their parts are delivered to the relevant regional directorates of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, in accordance with the relevant article of the Regulation on the Implementation of Confiscated Goods and Detained Vehicles According to the Law on Combating Smuggling."
Species Seized at Border Gates
According to the Ministry's data, Istanbul Airport recorded the highest number of seizures with 51,065 live animals at airports. Of these, 46,420 were medicinal leeches and 4,000 were other types of leeches. At land borders, the Çobanbey Customs Gate saw the highest number of seizures with 6,300 broiler chickens. Inspections also resulted in the seizure and protection of 450 bees at the Sarp Customs Gate and 350 sheep and goats at the Akçakale Border Gate.