Center

Illegally trafficked fuel involves 120 million USD in Turkey

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-20 19:02

ANKARA, -- An operation covering ten cities in Turkey revealed that 120 million U.S. dollars worth of fuel products were illegally trafficked in 2006, the semi-official Anatolian news agency reported on May 20.

The operation, carried out by Customs Undersecretariat Office in cities of Izmit, Bilecik, Afyon, Bursa, Batman, Van, Antalya, Adana, Ankara and Sakarya, kicked off on April 19.

Customs officers were quoted as saying that they started the investigation upon tip-offs and found out companies that produce fuel products illegally.

The companies were importing solvent and its derivative products in order to produce fuel, the officials said.

Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said they have been informed that the illegal fuel trafficking might be related to the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), which was listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

"We are searching whether the firms or people related to the trafficking have any connection with terrorist organizations," he said.