NEWS
Turkish customs seizes 570,000+ masks bound for Europe
14:32 May 12, 2020 AA
Turkish customs officers seized 573,750 medical masks in a truck bound for Europe on May 12, 2020 in Edirne. The truck was stopped at the Kapikule border crossing with Bulgaria. Customs officers seized masks valued at 8.8 million Turkish liras ($1.25 million) hidden inside hundreds of packages. The truck driver said he was carrying mattresses and second-hand household goods. Two people were arrested over smuggling. The demand for masks has risen world over in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health experts say wearing masks in public spaces protects people from contracting the virus. After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.