Coastal patrol officers in Turkey seize 82 illegal immigrants during operations in the Aegean Sea.

In a series of operations off the Aegean coast near Izmir province, the Turkish Coast Guard apprehended a total of 82 irregular migrants.

The operations, which underscore ongoing efforts by Turkish authorities to combat irregular migration routes across the Aegean Sea, began with the interception of a fiber-hulled rubber boat carrying 41 migrants, including 17 children, in waters off Seferihisar. The migrants were processed by authorities, according to a statement posted on the Coast Guard Command's website.

Separate incidents unfolded in Cesme district, where Coast Guard aircraft first spotted a group of migrants on land. In one incident, a fiber boat was detected by drones carrying 23 irregular migrants, eight of whom were children. Eight irregular migrants, including two children, were apprehended from the intercepted vessel near Cesme coast. In another rescue operation, Coast Guard teams successfully rescued 10 irregular migrants from a disabled rubber boat off the Cesme coast. One child was identified among the 10 additional migrants found in the Ucburun location within the Cesme district.

The migrants apprehended in Cesme district were brought ashore and processed by authorities. Two suspects aboard the intercepted vessels were taken into custody on charges of human smuggling.

Unfortunately, the Aegean Sea remains a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach European Union territory via nearby Greek islands. Tragically, nine migrants died in the Aegean Sea after a boat sank near Canakkale. The distress call from the disabled rubber boat off the Cesme coast was responded to by Coast Guard teams.

Despite these efforts, there are no specific details in the search results about the individuals arrested by Turkish border security authorities at the Cesme coast. The detained migrants were transferred to the Provincial Migration Management Directorate.

This incident marks the enforcement component of a broader operation against irregular migration. The operations serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Turkish authorities in managing migration and ensuring the safety of those attempting the dangerous journey across the Aegean Sea.