Türkiye detains over 1,600 irregular migrants in nationwide operations
Turkish Counter Migrant Smuggling And Border Gates Department police officer. (AA Photo)
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the results of nationwide “Kalkan-30” operations, which led to the detention of 1,644 irregular migrants and the arrest of 51 human smuggling organizers, including 11 foreign nationals.
Coordinated effort targets human smuggling
Minister Yerlikaya stated that the operations, aimed at enhancing public safety and tackling illegal migration, involved extensive inspections nationwide.
“We continue our fight against irregular migration and migrant smuggling with determination and resolve for the peace and security of our country,” Yerlikaya stated in his social media post.
Yerlikaya confirmed that the repatriation process for the 1,644 detained migrants has commenced as part of the ongoing measures against illegal migration.
The process of sending back the detected irregular migrants to their countries has been initiated.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
Details of ‘Kalkan-30’ operations
The coordinated efforts involved:
- Some 24,400 personnel and 7,347 teams conducted inspections at 5,094 locations.
- A total of 442,778 individuals were subjected to identity checks at abandoned buildings, entertainment venues, truck garages, terminals, ports, and public transport stations.
Extensive inspections lead to significant seizures
During the operations, authorities inspected:
- 4,241 abandoned buildings,
- 7,161 public venues,
- 473 transport terminals,
- and 2,882 additional locations, totaling 14,757 sites.
Seized items included 17 vehicles, 3 boats, 8 unlicensed firearms, and various quantities of illegal substances.
