ISTANBUL, TURKEY — (CNN) Turkish police have seized a multi-million dollar jewel-encrusted dagger that once belonged to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the official Anadolu news agency has reported.
The ornamental ivory dagger, which is adorned with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, was seized from a Turkish businessman in an anti-smuggling operation in Istanbul, police said in a statement Monday.
The Turkish suspect paid $4.6 million for the dagger, which was originally looted from one of Gadhafi’s palaces during the 2011 Libyan revolution that toppled the dictator.
Police said he was planning to sell the dagger for $10 million to an unnamed Saudi businessman.
The Turkish man and two of his aides were arrested in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district and were released after questioning, pending trial.
Gadhafi led the North African country since 1969 when he assumed power in a bloodless coup. But then in October 2011, the strongman leader was killed in what was described as crossfire that followed his arrest by revolutionary forces.
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