“On 04 February 2021 at 04.20 a.m., it was reported that a sailboat drifted due to engine breakdown and irregular migrants on the boat called for help off the coast of Çanakkale’s Gökçeada district. 65 irregular migrants on the sailboat were rescued by CG boats,” the statement said.

Turkey has traditionally been a major transit port for irregular immigrants to enter the European countries.

According to the official reports, 113,865 irregular migrants held across the country in 2019. (ILKHA)