Irregular migration by sea in Türkiye drops sharply this year

Turkish authorities intercepted 5,984 irregular migrants at sea in the first eight months of 2026, a 53 percent drop from 12,857 in the same period of 2025, according to figures through August 30. The number of incidents at sea fell 48 percent to 256, while 143 suspected smugglers were detained in maritime operations, far fewer than the 484 detained over all of 2024. Forty-six migrants died at sea in that same eight-month period this year, compared with 44 for all of 2024 and 59 for all of 2025.

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