Irregular migration incidents at sea nearly halve in Türkiye
Irregular migration incidents at sea in Türkiye fell by 48 percent in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, with a significant decline also recorded over the past three years, according to data from the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
Between January 2024 and Aug. 30, 2026, both the number of irregular migration incidents and the number of migrants intercepted at sea declined substantially, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Sept. 1, citing the figures by the command.
In 2024, Coast Guard units recorded 2,011 incidents involving 55,726 irregular migrants. The figures fell to 767 incidents and 20,078 migrants in 2025.
As of Aug. 30 this year, authorities intercepted nearly 6,000 irregular migrants in 256 incidents at sea.
