KABUL: Turkish police have arrested 23 Afghan migrants who entered the country illegally during an operation in Turkey on Friday night.
The DHA news agency citing Turkish police reported that the Afghan migrants were found inside a “TIR” cargo truck in the city of Erzurum, concealed within a customs-sealed container. The police also detained the truck’s driver.
Turkish authorities stated that the arrests were part of an enhanced security operation conducted during the New Year celebrations.
According to the report, teams combating human smuggling, along with border crossing authorities and intelligence units, stopped a TIR at the Ashkale checkpoint. After a customs officer removed the seal on the truck, police entered the trailer and encountered the 23 illegal Afghan migrants.
Reports indicate that Turkey has detained approximately 42,000 Afghan migrants throughout the current year (2025).