Turkey Detains 23 Afghan Migrants and 3 Suspected Smugglers in Kars

Police in the eastern Turkish city of Kars detained 23 Afghan migrants and three individuals accused of human smuggling, security officials said.

The group was arrested after authorities stopped a vehicle on a highway. The suspected smugglers were transferred to prison following legal procedures.

Deportation processes for the detained migrants have begun and are continuing under the supervision of relevant authorities, Turkish media reported Saturday.

Police emphasized that operations against irregular migration and human trafficking remain ongoing as part of broader efforts to curb illegal crossings.

According to official data from Turkey’s migration authority, 7,781 undocumented Afghan migrants have been detained across the country since the start of the year through mid-March.

Afghan nationals make up the largest group of irregular migrants detained in Turkey, amid ongoing economic hardship and instability driving migration flows.

Turkey has long served as a key transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe, prompting authorities to intensify border controls and enforcement measures in recent years.

The latest arrests underscore Turkey’s continued crackdown on illegal migration, as the number of Afghan migrants attempting to cross into and through the country remains high.