Türkiye has captured 21 migrant smugglers and 547 irregular migrants in a major nationwide operation. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared the news on Friday, saying that the inspections were part of a strong effort to fight illegal migration and smuggling in the country. He said the operation was carried out by the migration directorate along with the police, gendarmerie, and Coast Guard.
According to Yerlikaya, this large inspection was done in 15,469 locations, including abandoned buildings, truck garages, ports, stations, and public places. In total, the identities of 420,269 people were checked. One of the smugglers caught was a foreign national. Authorities have already started the process to return the irregular migrants to their home countries.
The interior minister said Türkiye continues to lead by example in managing migration. He stated that the government respects human rights and freedoms while also protecting national security and public order. He also said that they deal with all parts of the migration issue, including legal and illegal migration, border security, migrant returns, and international protection.
Türkiye has seen a sharp rise in irregular migration over the past 20 years. The country’s location between Asia and Europe has made it a major route for people fleeing war, poverty, and other difficult conditions in their home countries. To manage this, Türkiye has strengthened security along its land borders and increased patrols along its shores.
The Aegean Sea is one of the most common routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe. Türkiye and Greece share this sea, and many migrants risk their lives crossing it in unsafe boats. Over the past five years, the Turkish Coast Guard has rescued more than 105,000 migrants at sea. Many of them were trying to leave Türkiye and head to Europe, but got stranded in dangerous waters.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke about migration last week. He said that around 200,000 Syrians have returned home from Türkiye. He explained that these returns are voluntary, and no one is being forced to leave. Türkiye has also allowed some returnees to come back again if needed by giving them special permits.
At the peak of the Syrian civil war, Türkiye hosted more than 3.8 million Syrian refugees. It was home to nearly two-thirds of all Syrian refugees in the world. Many of them first stayed in temporary camps in the southeastern part of the country. Over time, most of them moved to bigger cities in the west to start new lives.
While some migrants are now returning home, Türkiye says it will continue to support those who remain. The government says it is focused on helping people in need while also taking strong action to prevent illegal migration and protect its borders from smugglers.