“582 irregular migrants, including 327 Afghan nationals, 140 Pakistanis, 24 Bangladeshis, 70 Syrians, were held in the Beyoğlu, Fatih, and Eyüp Sultan,” Istanbul provincial police department said in a statement.

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)