Operation in 14 provinces: 40 migrant smuggling organizers apprehended

In a statement on his social media account, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We will never give an opportunity to human traffickers who try to make our country a target and transit route for irregular migration by engaging in human smuggling. Our operations, which we carry out with determination in every region of our country, will continue without interruption."

Stating that the operation was conducted under the coordination of the Presidency of Migration Management and the General Directorate of Security's Department of Anti-Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates, Yerlikaya noted the following:

"As a result of the work carried out by the Kocaeli Provincial Police Department's Anti-Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates Branch, 25 migrant smuggling organizers were apprehended in operations targeting migrant smuggling organizers and irregular migrants in Kocaeli, Kayseri, Manisa, Mersin, Eskişehir, Isparta, Istanbul, and Uşak. All 25 were arrested, and 86 irregular migrants were apprehended."

Reporting that 7 migrant smuggling organizers were detained in the operation conducted in Hatay, with 4 of them arrested and proceedings for 3 still ongoing, Yerlikaya explained that 106 irregular migrants were also apprehended.

Yerlikaya announced that as a result of the work carried out by the Ankara Provincial Police Department's Anti-Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates Branch, 8 migrant smuggling organizers were arrested in operations centered in Ankara and carried out in Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa.

Providing information that the apprehended irregular migrants were handed over to the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management and deportation procedures were initiated, Yerlikaya noted that 14 vehicles and a large amount of foreign currency were also seized as a result of the operations.

Minister Yerlikaya congratulated the personnel of the Presidency of Migration Management and the police officers who carried out the operation.