The irregular migrants were nabbed by Turkish police in the Özalp district of Turkey’s eastern Van province, the Provincial Gendarmerie Command said in a statement on Friday.

“188 irregular migrants, including 172 Afghans, and 16 Pakistani citizens, were nabbed during a search of a house in the Yukarı Tulgalı neighborhood of the Özalp district,” the statement said.

The necessary procedures for the deportation of the migrants have been launched, according to the statement.

Historically, Turkey has been a country of origin, transit, and destination for migrants and was a crossroads between Europe and Asia.

Recent regional events have contributed to Turkey increasingly becoming a major destination and transit country for those fleeing conflict, poverty, and disasters.

Turkey hosts one of the largest migrant and refugee populations in the world. 

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