Turkish security forces have launched a large-scale operation against illegal migration, covering all 81 districts of the country, in which 478 illegal migrants and 19 people suspected of organizing illegal channels for the transfer of people were detained, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced, quoted by TRT Haber, BTA reported.
He pointed out that as a result of the strategic approach that the country is implementing in the fight against illegal migration, Turkey has ceased to be a target and transit route for illegal migration. He stressed that the fight against the organizers of channels for illegal human trafficking across borders will continue mercilessly, as before.
The operation was carried out by the General Directorate for Migration Management, together with the departments for combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking of the Gendarmerie and the General Directorate for Security, as well as with the command of border crossings and the coast guard.
27,697 police officers with 8,702 teams in a total of 5,532 points participated in it.
14,261 locations were inspected, of which 7,482 were public places, 422 terminals and border crossings.
Checks of the personal documents of 372,409 people were carried out in various districts of the country. 478 illegal migrants were detained and handed over to the General Directorate of Migration for extradition.
19 people suspected of organizing illegal human trafficking, the so-called “smugglers”, were arrested and handed over to the judicial authorities.