Ali Yerlikaya, Turkey’s interior minister, announced that 3,924 people had been arrested across the country this year on charges of human trafficking.

In a message posted on X/former Twitter on Friday, November 8, the minister confirmed that Turkish authorities are continuing their joint operations aimed at preventing illegal migration throughout the country.

Yerlikaya pointed out that during these operations against migrants in 41 cities, 257 human traffickers were arrested.

The Interior Ministry has issued arrest warrants for 1,693 of those detained, although their identities have not been disclosed.

This comes amid a significant increase in the arrest and deportation of Afghan migrants from countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Turkey in recent months.

Earlier, Turkish media reported the detention of 33 Afghan refugees in the city of Erzurum in the past month.

It is important to note that according to official statistics, more than 300,000 Afghan migrants currently live in Turkey.

The European Union recently allocated $11 billion to support Turkey in managing the forced return of migrants, including Syrians, to their countries of origin.

Turkey’s crackdown on human trafficking and illegal migration highlights the growing pressure on the country from its large migrant population, particularly from Afghanistan.

The ongoing operations, supported by both domestic efforts and international funding, reflect the complex challenges Turkey faces in managing migration while balancing humanitarian concerns. As these efforts intensify, the question remains how Turkey will navigate its role in the region’s broader migration crisis.