Police in the western province of Balıkesir seized an ancient Torah gilded with gold in an anti-smuggling operation yesterday.

The book was found in a car stopped at a checkpoint on the road connecting Balıkesir to western city of İzmir.

Three suspects in the car were detained.

Local media identified the suspects as a policeman deployed in İzmir, a local administrator and a contractor from Manisa, a city neighboring İzmir.