Cansu
Lawyer · Izmir, Turkey
- 209 cases handled
- 13+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Law, Yeditepe University
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4.96(9 reviews)
Customs Seizure of Goods in Turkey
This page is for owners whose goods, cash or vehicle were seized by Turkish customs or the police, including transport companies and travellers. It explains the criminal and administrative routes and how release is requested.
About Customs Seizure of Goods in Turkey
Customs seizure of goods in Turkey (el koyma) happens when customs, customs enforcement or the police take goods, cash or a vehicle at the border or inside the country because duties were not paid, a declaration was missing or a smuggling offence is suspected. In English this is described as goods seized by customs, a vehicle seized by customs or cash seized at the airport. A seizure is temporary; final confiscation (müsadere) is ordered by a court. This page is for the owner of the goods, including companies whose truck or cargo was stopped. It is general information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Seizure of Goods”.
Two routes, often at the same time
- Criminal. If smuggling is suspected, the goods and the vehicle used are seized under the Anti-Smuggling Law and the prosecutor investigates. Release is requested from the prosecutor or the criminal judgeship of peace (sulh ceza hakimliği) during the investigation, and from the trial court once the case is in court.
- Administrative. Customs can claim duties and impose an administrative fine (idari para cezası), which are challenged first with the customs administration and then in court.
Points to keep in mind
A seized vehicle can in some cases be released against a guarantee (teminat) equal to its value. Goods that are not released can be disposed of by the administration (tasfiye) before the criminal case ends, and storage costs fall on the owner, so timing matters. A vehicle owned by someone who did not know of the offence, such as a leasing or rental company, raises separate questions.
What an English-speaking lawyer does
A lawyer can find out which authority holds the goods and on what basis, request release or offer a guarantee, object to the seizure, challenge customs fines and represent the owner in the criminal case, also on the basis of a power of attorney from abroad. Related pages: smuggling offences, fines and administrative penalties and power of attorney; see also criminal law in Turkey.
Questions and answers
Is a seizure the same as confiscation?
No. Seizure (el koyma) keeps the goods while the case is examined; confiscation (müsadere) is a court’s final decision that the owner loses them.
Can cash taken at the airport be returned?
It depends on why it was taken and on the documents that show where the money came from. A lawyer can request its release and present those documents.
What if the owner was not the person carrying the goods?
An owner or a company that had no part in the offence can ask for the goods or the vehicle back and explain its position to the prosecutor or the court.
Does timing matter?
Yes. Objections have short deadlines, and goods can be disposed of while the case continues.
3 lawyers who provide Customs Seizure of Goods in Turkey
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Yasin
Lawyer · Istanbul, Turkey
- 187 cases handled
- 4+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Law, Yeditepe University Faculty of Law
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5.00(6 reviews)
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Mert
Lawyer · Antalya, Turkey
- 43 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Bachelors of Law, Ankara University
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