Istanbul court arrests 16 over human smuggling into Europe

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

Sixteen people out of 22 detained over the smuggling of migrants into Europe from Turkey were arrested on Nov. 25 by an Istanbul court.

Police squads raided a number of different locations in the Zeytinburnu district, on the European side of the city, as part of a series of operations targeting smugglers between Nov. 15 and 19, police sources said.

Twenty-two people suspected of smuggling were detained in the raids, along with 63 migrants, including 42 Afghans and 21 Iranians.

Some 134 life vests, $8,000 in cash and 25 mobile phones were also seized.

On Nov. 25, six of the suspects were released while 16 others were arrested by the court.

The 63 migrants were sent to the Istanbul provincial directorate general of migration management to be deported, according to sources.      

Last month, four suspects were arrested in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu and Silivri districts in relation to human smuggling.

The Zeytinburnu district is known for hosting many refugees, mostly of Afghan, Syrian and Iranian origin.