Turkish police detain 17 Afghan refugees

Following the detention and deportation of Afghan refugees in Turkey, officials have announced the arrest of 17 refugees in the city of Erzurum.

Turkish media reported on Friday, September 6 that these refugees were detained in the Kışkale area from a vehicle. The report indicates that these refugees were fined approximately $9,000 for their “illegal” presence in the country.

Additionally, Turkish authorities have announced the arrest of two individuals on charges of human trafficking. This comes amidst a broader trend of increased deportation and detentions of “illegal” Afghan refugees from Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran.

Previously, Turkey’s coast guard had reported the detention of 142 “illegal” refugees. According to reports, Turkey has detained and returned over 4,000 refugees to Afghanistan from various cities since the beginning of this year.

Turkish officials have stated that operations to combat the entry and detention of illegal migrants will continue across the country. Official statistics indicate that over 300,000 Afghan migrants are currently living in Turkey.

Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration reflects broader regional concerns about refugee management and border security. The increasing number of detentions and deportations underscores the country’s efforts to address illegal migration while balancing humanitarian considerations.