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Turkey detains 149 Afghan migrants after ramping up border security
Turkish security forces detained 149 Afghan migrants on Thursday in the eastern city of Bitlis, after the country ratcheted up border security measures to avoid a potential influx from Afghanistan via Iran.
One person was arrested by the local courthouse on suspicion of smuggling migrants inside a truck trailer, Reuters reported.
The local governorate said the migrants were later brought to the repatriation centre in the eastern province of Van, located at the country’s border with Iran.
Turkey enhanced its security measures after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) takeover in August.
A modular concrete wall is being built on Turkey’s 295-kilometre long border with Iran, as part of efforts to stop illegal crossings.
Turkey hosts more than 4 million refugees, the vast majority from Syria, and is the world’s leading refugee host.
