ISTANBUL, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye has detained 687 irregular migrants and 29 suspected smugglers in a sweeping round of identity checks across the country, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Thursday.
In a statement, Yerlikaya said Turkish authorities conducted large-scale inspections simultaneously across all 81 provinces, targeting migrant smuggling networks and irregular migration routes.
In the course of these inspections, the identities of 435,295 individuals were checked, the minister said.
Yerlikaya stressed that Türkiye approaches migration management comprehensively, not only addressing regular and irregular migration, but also focusing on combating migrant smuggling, enhancing border security, international protection, as well as voluntary and safe returns.
Procedures have been initiated to return the detained irregular migrants to their home countries, he added.
Türkiye, a major transit and destination country due to its geographic location, has intensified its efforts to curb irregular migration and dismantle smuggling networks operating along key routes into Europe. ■
