Customs seizure — cash, goods & devices

What gets seized — and why

Most seizures at the airport fall into one of these:

• Undeclared cashCurrency above the declaration limit, carried without declaring it.
• Goods over the allowanceMore than the duty-free / personal allowance, or commercial quantities.
• Electronics & valuablesHigh-value devices, gold or jewellery questioned at the line.
• Restricted or prohibited itemsGoods that need a permit or cannot be brought in.
• Suspected offenceItems held while a possible customs or smuggling issue is examined.

Your rights

• To receive a record (tutanak) of what was seized and why.
• To an interpreter and to understand anything before you sign it.
• To pursue the return of your property and to challenge a penalty through the proper channels.

What to do — and what not to do

The process & timeline

• SeizureOfficers take the cash or goods at the customs line.
• The report (tutanak)A seizure record is drawn up; ask for a copy and check it.
• Property heldYour money or goods are held while the matter is processed.
• Recovery / challengeThrough the customs process and, where needed, the courts, we pursue return and challenge any penalty.

Starting early and preserving every document makes recovery more straightforward.

Common situations we see

A few situations we see often — yours may differ, but the approach is the same:

• Undeclared cash takenCurrency over the limit seized on entry or exit; lawful source is often key.
• Laptop or phone heldA high-value device questioned and kept at the line.
• Gold or jewelleryValuables seized over declaration or allowance questions.
• A gift over the allowanceGoods above the personal allowance treated as commercial.
• Business samplesCommercial-quantity items carried for work, stopped at customs.

Who we help

• Travellers whose cash was seized over the declaration limit
• People whose electronics, gold or valuables were taken
• Business travellers carrying samples or equipment
• Anyone asked to sign a customs report they did not understand
• Families acting for a traveller still at the airport

How we help

1. 1
   ReviewWe read the seizure report (tutanak) and the basis for the seizure.
2. 2
   Identify the routeWe tell you honestly the realistic prospects and the correct legal path.
3. 3
   Pursue & challengeWe pursue the return of your money or goods and challenge any penalty — through customs and, where needed, the courts.
4. 4
   Follow upWe keep the matter moving and keep you updated, including from abroad if you have left.

We are independent attorneys registered with the İstanbul Barosu. Fees are explained and agreed before any work begins.

At which airport — IST or Sabiha Gökçen?

We act at both Istanbul airports, around the clock:

• Istanbul Airport (IST)The large hub on the European side, where most customs seizures occur.
• Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)The airport on the Asian side — smaller, but the same customs rules apply, and we cover it too.

Key terms

Seizure report (tutanak)

The official record of what customs took and why — ask for a copy.

Cash declaration

The requirement to declare currency above a set limit on entry or exit.

Allowance

The value or quantity of goods you may bring in without duty.

Customs (gümrük)

The authority — and the red/green channel — where goods are checked.

Customs Law No. 4458

The main framework for customs and seizures in Türkiye.

Frequently asked questions