Türkiye has taken major action to manage migration, stopping 981 irregular migrants and arresting 31 smugglers in a large operation on Thursday. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that the “Shield-35” operation involved over 26,000 personnel who checked the identities of more than 366,000 people.
Yerlikaya said Türkiye respects human rights while keeping public safety a top priority. “We handle migration by focusing on regular and irregular cases, safe returns, and stopping smuggling,” he explained in a statement.
Türkiye is a key route for migrants trying to reach Europe, especially Greece, through dangerous journeys. Many rely on smugglers who often leave them stranded after charging high fees. The country’s coast guard and security forces have improved efforts to stop such crossings, leading to more migrants being caught in recent years.
Since 2020, over 1.1 million irregular migrants have been stopped in Türkiye. Most are from Afghanistan and Syria. The number of migrants caught peaked in 2022 at 285,027 but dropped to 175,786 so far in 2024. This decrease shows better border control and stricter enforcement.
Authorities have also increased arrests of smugglers, catching 31,931 between 2020 and 2023. In 2024, over 9,700 smugglers have been detained.
Talks between Türkiye and Greece may lead to a renewal of a 2016 EU deal aimed at reducing irregular migration. This agreement could help both countries manage migration more effectively while improving their relations.