Turkish smuggler shot dead at Syrian border

A Turkish smuggler was shot dead by gunfire launched from Syrian side of the border, Turkey's southern border province Hatay Governor Office said on Thursday. According to a statement released by Hatay Governor Office after the incident, Turkish citizen Ahmet Yagci was killed for he was involved in confrontation related to smuggling debt payments, and was shot by gunfire coming from the Syrian side of country's Asi River on Wednesday. Yagci was heavily injured at the site and died on route to a nearby hospital, added the statement. Fuel smuggling from Syrian side of the border, where rebels gained control, to Turkey has intensified recently, Dogan News Agency reported Thursday. Hence, Turkish security forces tightened measures at the border, according to the report.