“On 14 March 2021 at 19.50, it was reported that there was a group of irregular migrants on lifeboats off the coast of İzmir’s Seferihisar district/Doğanbey. They were left to Turkish territorial waters by Greek assets. 158 irregular migrants on 8 lifeboats were rescued and 6 people who attempted to leave the country in illegal ways were apprehended by CG boats”, the statement said.

Turkey has traditionally been a major transit port for irregular immigrants to enter the European countries.

According to the official reports, 113,865 irregular migrants held across the country in 2020.