ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish authorities said Saturday that security forces detained 132 suspected migrant smuggling organizers during operations carried out across 24 provinces, seizing dozens of vehicles and boats allegedly used in illegal crossings.
Turkey’s interior ministry said 89 of the suspects were arrested, while 40 others were placed under judicial control measures. Legal procedures for the remaining detainees are ongoing.
The ministry said the raids were coordinated by the Gendarmerie General Command’s Department for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking, with operations involving unmanned aerial vehicles and ground units from provincial gendarmerie commands and commando teams.
Authorities said 64 vehicles and 12 boats were confiscated during the operations.
The ministry added that Turkey would continue efforts against groups accused of organizing irregular migration routes, using surveillance technology and legal measures.
Turkey has long been a major transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe from the Middle East and Asia. Turkish security forces regularly announce arrests of suspected smugglers, particularly in western coastal provinces and border regions.
According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Turkish authorities have intensified anti-smuggling operations in recent months, targeting networks that transport migrants by land and sea toward neighboring countries and Europe.