420 migrants caught off Aegean in one week: Turkish Interior Ministry

ANKARA

A total of 420 illegal migrants were apprehended off Turkey’s Aegean coast over the past week, Turkish Interior Ministry stated on Aug. 19.

Between Aug. 11 and Aug. 18, Turkish Coast Guards intercepted 420 migrants in nine separate incidents off the Aegean Sea, the ministry said in a statement.

It said one migrant smuggler was also detained during the operations.

According to the ministry, security teams also apprehended 165 foreign nationals in the land in three separate incidents in the Kuşadası, Ayvacık and Seferihisar region.

One search and rescue ship, 38 coast guard boats, seven coast guard security teams (SAGET), two coastal safety and security research and rescue teams (DEGAK) and 11 patrol boats have patrolled for 1,260 hours to prevent illegal immigration, the ministry added.