Rare stone seized in anti-smuggling operation in Turkey

MUGLA, Turkey

Police in western Turkey seized a rare stone in an anti-smuggling operation, security sources said on Friday.

One-and-a-half kilograms of painite stone -- more valuable than diamond -- was seized during the operation in the Milas district of Mugla province, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

A total of seven people were arrested during the simultaneous operations on the residences of suspects who had allegedly carried out illegal excavations in Milas for historical artifacts and were planning to sell their finds.

According to experts, one carat of the stone amounts to roughly $70,000.