On June 9, 2026, Turkish customs enforcement teams at Istanbul Airport flagged a passenger arriving on an international flight through risk analysis, the Turkish broadcaster NTV reported.
The passenger, a Spanish passport holder, was picked out at the baggage belt and taken for a detailed search. An X-ray scan of the suitcase reportedly showed about 22.5 kilograms of cannabis packed in bags. The seizure was valued at roughly 20.3 million Turkish lira.
The passenger was detained, referred to the Gaziosmanpaşa Courthouse and placed in pretrial detention. The report does not name the person and gives the nationality only as Spanish passport holder. The person is accused, not convicted.
Why it matters: Turkish customs use risk analysis to pick passengers out at the baggage belt, before they leave the airport.
Source: NTV (DHA agency credit), 2026-06-12. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting. An arrest or charge is not proof of guilt.