ANKARA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities detained 52 individuals involved in migrant smuggling, including 32 foreign nationals, during a nationwide anti-human trafficking operation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Friday.

A total of 656 irregular migrants were also apprehended, and efforts are underway to repatriate them to their home countries, Yerlikaya said on social media platform X.

The operation, dubbed "Shield-36," saw the participation of 26,456 personnel. Officials conducted checks on 402,609 identification documents across 5,446 locations, involving 8,370 teams and monitoring 15,616 areas, according to Yerlikaya. The minister did not specify the timeframe of the operation.

Türkiye's geographical position between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East makes it a key transit route for migrants aiming to reach Europe. As a destination and transit point for refugees, particularly from Syria and Afghanistan, Türkiye has faced significant challenges with illegal migration. Enditem

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