44 irregular migrants nabbed in southeastern Turkey
44 irregular migrants were arrested in Turkey’s southeastern Batman province, the Provincial Police Department said in a statement on Friday.
Among the migrants were 25 Afghan, 12 Pakistani and 7 Bangladeshi nationals, according to security sources.
The necessary procedures for the deportation of irregular migrants have been launched, the statement added.
Historically, Turkey has been a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants and was a crossroads between Europe and Asia.
Recent regional events have contributed to Turkey increasingly becoming a major destination and transit country for those fleeing conflict, poverty, and disasters.
Turkey hosts one of the largest migrant and refugee populations in the world.
According to the official reports, 454,662 irregular migrants held across the country in 2019. (ILKHA)