Türkiye detains 346 irregular migrants in nationwide crackdown
41 irregular migrants caught in a boat off the coast of Cesme, Izmir. (Coast Guard Command - AA Photo)
Between April 14 and 20, Turkish security forces detained a total of 346 irregular migrants and arrested 24 individuals suspected of migrant smuggling during operations across at least ten provinces.
Türkiye, which serves as a major transit route between Asia and Europe, continues to carry out large-scale efforts to combat irregular migration and dismantle trafficking networks.
Border, inland operations
In Edirne and Kirklareli provinces, bordering Bulgaria, a combined total of 81 irregular migrants were detained during the week.
On April 14, 17 were apprehended in Edirne and 5 in Kirklareli’s Kofcaz district.
On April 16, 23 were caught in Edirne and 4 more in Kirklareli.
On April 19, security forces detained 27 in Edirne and five in Kirklareli. All were referred to either the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management or the Pehlivankoy Repatriation Center.
In Van, 13 out of 27 suspects detained between March 30 and April 13 for migrant smuggling were formally arrested as part of a broader crackdown on April 14.
In Hatay, police operations on April 15 and 17 led to the detention of 13 irregular migrants and the arrest of three individuals suspected of facilitating illegal entries.
In Osmaniye, three Syrian nationals were apprehended on April 15, and their driver was arrested.
In Canakkale’s Eceabat district, 22 Afghan nationals, including 10 children, were found in a wooded area and transferred to Ayvacik.
In Rize’s Cayeli district, on April 19, 12 irregular migrants were found during raids. Two were arrested for drug-related offenses after narcotics were found, and the rest were transferred to the local repatriation center.
Maritime interceptions
In Izmir province, 132 irregular migrants were intercepted at sea. On April 14, 26 migrants, including 12 children, were rescued off Seferihisar.
On April 17, two separate maritime operations rescued 36 migrants and caught a suspected smuggler near Maden Bay and 29 others, including 10 children, off Dikili.
On April 19, the Coast Guard rescued 41 migrants, 16 of them children, near Cesme. The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management processed all.
Security sweeps, urban checks
On April 16 in Igdir, authorities conducted an 18-hour sweep targeting irregular migration through bus terminals and transit points. One Afghan migrant was detained following inspections of 238 individuals and 17 vehicles.
In Kocaeli on April 17, seven migrants were caught in Gebze and Karamursel, while two suspected smugglers were arrested and formally charged.
