Turkish forces halt over 7,000 illegal crossings this year

The Turkish Armed Forces have detained more than 7,000 people attempting to cross the country’s borders illegally since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Zeki Aktürk stated on X that Turkish forces continue operations against terrorism while safeguarding national borders and ensuring security on land, at sea and in the air.

He added that during ongoing search-and-destroy missions in shelters, hideouts and caves used by militants in the Pençe-Kilit operation zone, large quantities of weapons, ammunition and other materials had been seized and destroyed.

The total length of tunnels demolished in Tel Rifaat and Manbij, in northern Syria, has reached 642 kilometres, he stressed.

Over the past week alone, 188 people were detained for attempting to cross the border illegally, including five suspected members of terrorist organisations. A further 735 individuals were prevented from crossing. Since January 1, the number of detainees has risen to 7,177.

Aktürk also reported that around 118 kilograms of narcotics were seized this week in counter-smuggling operations near the border province of Van.

By Aghakazim Guliyev