Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper reported that 1,353 irregular migrants were intercepted across the country in recent days, according to information from the interior ministry. It added that 37 alleged smugglers, including four foreign nationals, had also been detained as part of the operation.
Turkey's interior ministry carried out a major operation to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
According to the daily Hurriyet newspaper, this included raids on nearly 20,000 locations across the country, including "truck garages, terminals, ports, fishermen's shelters and public transport stations."
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On average 24 officials per arrest
Of the 1,353 irregular migrants and 37 alleged smugglers detained, more than 780 had been wanted prior to the operation.
A total of 33,401 personnel across the country were reported to have joined the major operation meaning that on average, it took 24 officials per arrest.
Hurriyet said on its English-language online platform Hurriyet Daily News that "administrative sanctions were imposed on a total of 873 people, 779 of whom were foreign nationals and 94 were Turkish citizens."
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Thousands of deportations
The government meanwhile also shared figures on irregular migration from the last week of March. It said that during the period from March 24 to March 30, nearly 2,600 irregular migrants in total had been intercepted and more than 1,700 had been deported.
It is unclear, however, whether those latest numbers include the arrests and interceptions from the major recent operations across the country.
During the first three months of 2023, the government says it deported more than 26,000 irregular migrants in total.
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Opposition leader tells military to gear up
Against the backdrop of the mass arrests, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar denied rumors that scores of irregular migrants — in particular from Afghanistan — had entered Turkey in recent days, as the interior ministry's focus has moved to rebuilding the southeast of the country, which suffered major destruction in a series of earthquakes in February, killing more than 45,000 people in Turkey alone.
The reports about increased migrations came after Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), had shared a video message, in which he claimed that there was an increase in the number of irregular migrants coming into the country.
The opposition politician said that the military should focus on doing its share to stop the arrival of irregular migrants. In a Tweet, Kilicdaroglu doubled down on this message, saying: "I am appealing to our soldiers. … Perform your duty on our borders. Don't listen to anyone."
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Migration major issue in upcoming election
The daily Yeni Safak newspaper, which supports President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK party, meanwhile insinuated that in his message, interpreting Kilicdaroglu's words as an alleged appeal to soldiers to shoot migrants on sight and ignore orders from their superiors.
The political issue has become a major hot topic, with Turkey due to hold elections next month. For several years, anti-migrant sentiment has resulted in violence across the country, with Erdogan famously declaring he would make sure that Turkey won't turn into a "warehouse for refugees" on the EU's external borders.
Defense Minister Akar meanwhile reacted to controversy, saying that the footage showing migrants in the video shared by Kilicdaroglu had been filmed in other countries and at different times, stopping just shy of accusing Kilicdaroglu of engaging in fake news.
"The Turkish Armed Forces, in line with the command chain, by using the most advanced technology, are continuing to work 7/24 for the protection of our border with full determination and sacrifice. Our troops never allow any illegal entry into our borders," Akar added.
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with Hurriyet, Yeni Safak, Goc Idaresi Baskanligi