Police nab 63 irregular migrants in eastern Turkey
The irregular migrants have been discovered crammed into two vans in Turkey’s eastern Bitlis province, the Governor’s office said in a statement on Sunday.
All of the nabbed migrants were Afghan nationals, according to the statement.
4 suspects were arrested on a charge of human smuggling, the statement said.
The necessary procedures for the deportation of the migrants have been launched, it 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, 113,865 irregular migrants held across the country in 2020. (ILKHA)