“On 18 February 2021 at 04.10 a.m., it was reported that there was a group of irregular migrants on a lifeboat off the coast of Çanakkale’s Ayvacık district. They were left to Turkish territorial waters by Greek assets. 13 irregular migrants on the lifeboat were rescued by CG boat”, 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 2020. (ILKHA)