“315 irregular migrants, including 131 Pakistanis and 138 Afghan nationals, were held in the Bayrampaşa, Bağcılar, Bahçelievler, Zeytinburnu, and Arnavutköy districts,” Istanbul provincial police department said, adding that six suspects were also arrested on charges of human smuggling.

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. (ILKHA)