764 irregular migrants, 42 smuggler suspects apprehended across Türkiye

Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 42 suspects involved in migrant smuggling, including 14 foreign nationals, were apprehended during the nationwide “Kalkan-37” operations conducted on Dec. 31, 2024.

In a statement shared on his social media account X, formerly known as Twitter, Yerlikaya highlighted the extensive scope of the operations, revealing that 380,807 identity checks were carried out across the country, leading to the identification of 764 irregular migrants, who were subsequently transferred to the repatriation centers.

Nationwide efforts against irregular migration

The “Kalkan-37” operations, coordinated with public prosecutors and the Presidency of Migration and Management, were executed by the General Directorate of Security, the Gendarmerie General Command and the Coast Guard Command.

The operations covered a wide range of areas including abandoned buildings, entertainment venues, truck garages, terminal ports and public transportation hubs.

A total of 26,475 personnel and 8,352 teams participated in the operations, inspecting 15,063 locations across 5,566 checkpoints.

The inspections included 4,482 abandoned buildings, 7,804 public venues, 539 terminals, and 2,238 other locations.

Mobile migration checkpoints in action

Minister Yerlikaya also provided insights into the 270 mobile migration checkpoint vehicles deployed across Türkiye.

These mobile units are equipped with devices connected to the GocNET database, fingerprint scanners and staffed by migration experts and interpreters.

“We check the status of foreigners who do not have an ID or passport with them quickly and easily through the Mobile Immigration Point vehicles. With this practice, while we are waging a great fight against irregular immigration on the one hand, we are also not disturbing foreigners and tourists who have the right to stay legally in our country,” Yerlikaya stated.

The apprehended suspects are undergoing legal proceedings, while irregular migrants are being processed for repatriation in accordance with international and national laws.