The Coast Guard boats were deployed to the area after receiving information that there was a group of irregular migrants in life rafts off the coast of Çanakkale in Aegean Sea.

The migrants, including children, were pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek elements and brought ashore.

The migrants were taken to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for further processing.

In addition to the 33 migrants rescued in Çanakkale, another 96 irregular migrants were apprehended off the coast of Izmir and Aydın on Monday.

The migrants were apprehended in four separate operations by the Turkish Coast Guard.

The migrants, who are mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, were also taken to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for further processing.

The Turkish Coast Guard has been stepping up its operations to prevent irregular migration in recent months.

The government has said that it will continue to work to protect its borders and to ensure the safety of irregular migrants. (ILKHA)