A Belarusian fashion figure, Polly Cannabis, reported the loss of jewelry during a flight from Istanbul to Minsk. According to statements shared with socialbites.ca, items including Bulgari and Roberto Coin pieces were taken from hand luggage. The person speaking to the outlet claimed that the airport staff prevented her from boarding with hand luggage due to limited cabin space. One airport employee allegedly behaved suspiciously, delaying entry in the queue and then inspecting the locks on the carry-on. Upon arrival in Minsk, Cannabis discovered the theft and promptly notified the police.
While in Belarus, Cannabis learned that all the jewelry was missing. She described arriving to find the locks displaced and oriented incorrectly. She contacted law enforcement, who began an inquiry and filed a case, yet indicated they could investigate only the Belarusian portion of the incident. Attempts to initiate business inquiries in Turkey were met with the response that a Turkish investigation required in-person presence. A subsequent trip to Istanbul was made to pursue the matter in person. Police in the location reportedly reviewed video footage, but some segments had low quality or were missing entirely. When Cannabis requested the video for the Belarusian investigation, the response was negative. She also engaged the Turkish tourist police, who prepared a report and announced an investigation.
The report noted that a Bulgari box containing jewelry and accompanying documents was stolen at the airport. A second box and all the items within were torn apart and left in the suitcase. According to Cannabis, the Bulgari box held earrings, a necklace, and a pendant, and the jewelry came with documents for the earrings. The second box, described as ordinary, had been ripped apart, with many pieces displaced and recovered as evidence. Fingerprints were being sought on the recovered items. In addition, Roberto Coin white-gold earrings with diamonds, rings, and other earrings were among the belongings. The final pair of earrings was not the most valuable, yet it featured a blue star sapphire and held deep personal significance for Cannabis, who conveyed the emotional impact of loss.
The model expressed a desire to recover the stolen pieces or receive compensation, and she sought moral redress as well. A central aim highlighted was to curb and prevent ongoing theft operations at Istanbul Airport. Cannabis called for dismantling the alleged criminal network and the wider system that enables such thefts. She urged the airport to install comprehensive surveillance, including cameras on baggage handling staff, to safeguard travelers’ rights during the often streamlined procedures. Her concern centered on making air travel safer and more reliable, reflecting a broader disappointment with what she previously believed to be a highly secure environment. Cannabis underscored the need for visible security measures in busy hubs, hoping for reforms that would restore confidence in air travel security. Though the incident shook her faith in airport safety, the emphasis remained on constructive improvements rather than retaliation.
Previously, there were reports of another traveler in Saint Petersburg who had been robbed, with accounts stating that stolen documents were attempted to be returned by mail. This broader backdrop suggests a pattern of baggage-related thefts across different routes and venues, prompting calls for more robust security practices and better cross-border cooperation in investigations. [citation needed]