This is the heartbreaking moment a tiny traumatised monkey cuddles its little friend and strokes its back after the pair were seized from a cramped box by customs officials.

The incident happened at the Habur Customs Gate in Sirnak Province, in south-eastern Turkey, according to an 11th September statement from the Ministry of Trade.

Video footage shows the macaque monkeys pressed close together inside a wooden crate.

The clip then shows one monkey holding the other tightly and running its hand down its back after being placed in an animal carrier.

The Ministry of Trade said Customs Enforcement teams from the Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate found three falcons and two macaque monkeys during operations at the border.

The three falcons were hidden in the space under the driver and passenger seats of a car, according to the ministry.

The two macaque monkeys were found in a wooden cage hidden in the lower section of a lorry.

Customs agents find two monkeys and three falcons at the Habur Customs Gate, Turkey, undated. An investigation has been launched. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)

The animals were handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry to determine whether they fall within the scope of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Animals such as monkeys and birds of prey are often targeted by traffickers because they can fetch high prices in the illegal pet trade and are sometimes used for entertainment or private collections.

Falcons in particular are smuggled for use in falconry, while primates are in demand as exotic pets despite the risks to both the animals and their buyers.

Habur Customs Gate is one of Turkey’s busiest border crossings, handling thousands of lorries and passenger vehicles every day on the route to Iraq, and officials say its heavy traffic makes it a frequent target for smugglers.

An investigation was launched into the incident by the Silopi Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)