Claim of Detaining 6 Tons of Gold Owned by a Businessman from Elazığ in Switzerland

There are reports that 6 tons of gold, said to be owned by a businessman from Elazığ, are detained in Switzerland. However, the details of the news and information about the reason for the detention of the gold are unclear.

Scraper SystemApril 12, 2026, 01:11 PMUpdated: April 22, 2026, 10:30 PM

Claim of Detaining 6 Tons of Gold Owned by a Businessman from Elazığ in Switzerland

Businessman Saeed Ali Bayrak, from the city of Elazığ, has been fighting a legal battle for 31 years to recover six tons of gold, inherited from his father, deposited at Credit Suisse bank in Switzerland. It is alleged that the Bayrak family is pursuing the case with more than 60 lawyers to recover this fortune, currently valued at over two billion dollars, while the bank justifies its position with reasons such as "statute of limitations" and "proof of source of funds."

The situation became complicated when Bayrak wanted to return the six tons of gold to Turkey.

According to a report published by "Turkish Gazette," in 2005, after she fell seriously ill, Bayrak's mother told her son Saeed Ali Bayrak from her hospital room about a safe deposit box in Switzerland where their assets were kept. Bayrak traveled to Zurich and met with bank officials, but things became complicated when he wanted to return the six tons of gold to Turkey.

Switzerland refused to allow the gold to be smuggled out of the country and offered Saeed Ali Bayrak and his family the opportunity to settle there. However, Bayrak rejected the offer, stating his desire to bring the gold to Turkey.

The situation escalated into a legal and diplomatic crisis.

The Swiss ambassador traveled to Elazığ to meet the Bayrak family. This process, which involved searching for six large boxes filled with Ottoman-era jewelry, five-piece sets, and gold belts, reached the advisors of then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

It is currently valued at more than two billion dollars.

The Bayrak family continues their legal battle with more than sixty lawyers to recover six tons of gold, valued at more than two billion dollars today, while Credit Suisse bank allegedly uses excuses such as "statute of limitations" and "proof of source." However, Turkey's asset amnesty law allows the introduction of assets located abroad into the country under certain conditions, regardless of their source, and their registration in the system with tax advantages.

Claim of Detaining 6 Tons of Gold Owned by a Businessman from Elazığ in Switzerland