27,536 migrants detained in May

ANKARA

A total of 27,536 undocumented migrants and 561 human smuggling suspects were detained across Turkey in May, the country’s deputy interior minister has said.

Nearly 330,000 out of 3.6 million Syrians registered in Turkey returned to their homeland in recent months, İsmail Çataklı said at a press conference on June 3.

Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

Çataklı also said that 3,645 people were captured for their suspected links to terror organizations in May.

Turkish security forces “neutralized” a total of 141 PKK militants in May, he said. Authorities often use “neutralized” in statements to imply militants in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Referring to anti-drug operations, Çataklı said nearly 15,000 people were detained and 1,577 were remanded into custody in the same month.

He also said that the ministry initiated a legal procedure against 2,295 people as part of its fight against cybercrimes.