Interior Minister Yerlikaya: '1,456 irregular migrants apprehended'

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated, "Our fight against irregular migration continued uninterrupted throughout the Eid al-Adha holiday. 1,456 irregular migrants were apprehended during the 'Kalkan-24' inspections conducted with mobile migration point vehicles."

In a statement on his social media account, Interior Minister Yerlikaya noted that the fight against irregular migration continued without pause during the Eid al-Adha holiday, and that 1,456 irregular migrants were apprehended during the "Kalkan-24" inspections carried out with mobile migration point vehicles.

"We will never give an opportunity to organizers who engage in human smuggling and try to make our country a target and transit route for irregular migration, nor to irregular migrants," said Minister Yerlikaya, adding the following:

"Under the coordination of our governorships and the Presidency of Migration Management; by our police, gendarmerie, and coast guard; 35,159 identity checks were conducted during the Eid al-Adha holiday in 60 provinces using 165 mobile migration point vehicles, 75 of which were in Istanbul.

1,456 irregular migrants were identified. The apprehended irregular migrants were handed over to the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management and deportation procedures were initiated. I congratulate our governorships, our Presidency of Migration Management, and our police, gendarmerie, and coast guard who carried out the inspections. May God protect you. Our nation's prayers are with you."