“On 20 March 2021 at 06.00 a.m., it was reported that there was a group of irregular migrants on an inflatable boat off the coast of Balıkesir’s Ayvalık district. Their boat was pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek assets. 48 irregular migrants on the inflatable boat were rescued 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.