One dead in treasury smuggling clash in Turkey’s west

DENİZLİ - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

A specialized sergeant died late June 20 in an armed clash between the gendarmerie and treasure smugglers after being pushed from a cliff in the Aegean province of Denizli.

A suspect allegedly pushed specialized sergeant Cengiz Darbaş, 32, off the cliff as he was trying to capture fleeing smugglers in the Honaz district of Denizli while two gendarmerie privates were also injured as they fell into a well. Four of the five smugglers were apprehended, with the other remaining on the run.

Gendarmerie forces were informed late June 20 of historical artifact smugglers searching for treasure in a mountainous region where rock graves are found. The patrol squad was deployed to the area to conduct an operation. However, an armed clash began when a total of five smugglers defied the gendarmerie’s summons.

One of the suspects pushed Darbaş from the cliff as the gendarmerie was trying to catch the smugglers in the dark of the night. 

The soldier received critical injuries, later succumbing to his injuries. Another gendarmerie private was also injured as he fell from the cliff.

A large-scale operation has begun in the area to catch the remaining smuggler.