Turkish police detain dozens of Afghan migrants in Turkey

ANKARA: Turkish media reports that police in Sakarya city have arrested 19 Afghan migrants who were hiding in a container and have expelled them from the country following the completion of legal procedures. Police in Bingöl have also announced the arrest of 12 Afghan migrants during operations against human trafficking. According to the Turkish police, in the first month of the current year, they have apprehended the highest number of Afghan asylum seekers. The reports indicate that police forces in Sakarya and Bingöl identified and detained 32 undocumented migrants, including one Pakistani. In Sakarya, the 20 detained migrants have been expelled from Turkey after going through legal processes, while 12 others are set to be transferred to centers for the expulsion of foreign nationals. In connection with these operations, cases have been opened against six suspected individuals on charges of human trafficking, and administrative fines have been imposed on them. The process of apprehending and expelling Afghan migrants continues across various cities in Turkey. The Turkish Migration Authority’s website states that in the first month of 2026, 3,053 Afghan migrants were identified and detained nationwide.