ISTANBUL (Xinhua/Anadolu) – Turkish gendarmerie has confiscated 198 ancient coins as part of a crackdown on the illicit trade of historical artifacts in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, the Ihlas News Agency reported on Tuesday. The gendarmerie forces acted on a tip-off that two suspects were holding the ancient coins in their possessions, in order to sell them to potential buyers, said the report. In a separate incident, Turkish Customs authorities, on Tuesday, seized 28 pythons from a truck and arrested two people on suspicion of smuggling the dangerous reptiles in north-western Edirne province, Anadolu Agency reports.