Action Line 81011 - Garage Sales

  • Published
  • By Anonymous
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIKE AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint: 

I understand the black marketing laws as a way for Turkey to better improve their quality of life programs.

The problem I have been having is I love to go to garage sales as a means of fun and being able to get what some call "finds" or "bargains" but what I am running into is Turkish individuals with gate are buying everything at these sales due to the cost effectiveness of doing so.

I know in order to have a garage sale the seller must have approval and be briefed on the black marketing issue. I have run into this problem frequently and believe it to be a matter of integrity and enforcement since, even after I reminded the individual hosting the sale that he was not suppose to sell to anyone without proper identification.

I am wondering what can be done about the issue? 

Response:

Black marketing laws are not unique to Turkey and are tied to customs requirements. Although many people may think it is harmless to have a garage sale and sell items to Turkish nationals, the sell constitutes black marketing and is illegal--even if the items were purchased before arriving in Turkey. A simple definition of black marketing is: Giving, selling or transferring any item to a Turkish national (or anyone else not entitled to duty free goods) that was not purchased on the Turkish economy. 

There is a customary exception that allows us to gratuitously give consumable items in very small or insignificant amounts. For example, you can have a Turkish friend over for dinner or offer a drink or cigarette to a Turkish national.

USAFE 51-707 makes black marketing an offense punishable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Potential punishment for black marketing is severe. Simple smuggling (the term used in Turkish law) carries a jail term of up to five years.
 
Punishments also include payment of customs tax and confiscation of items. Military members can receive punitive or administrative action. Dependents could lose shopping privileges and ultimately lose command sponsorship. Besides violating the law, our members who black market also may endanger our ability to make purchases and receive our household goods without customs costs.

Other than prohibiting all garage sales, which I am not inclined to do for a number of reasons, there is no way to prevent this illegal activity. However, we can continue to get the word out that this practice is illegal and report violations to security forces, base legal office or leadership, so that the rules can be enforced and action can be taken against violators.