Turkey: Police arrest 61 suspects for human-smuggling

By Halil Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - More than 60 people were arrested in an operation against human-smugglers across Turkey on Friday, police said.

In an Istanbul-based operation, police arrested 61 people for their suspected roles in organizing illegal border crossings.

The operation was held in 20 provinces across Turkey.

The suspects were accused of providing fake passports to undocumented migrants and terror groups like Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup; PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU; and leftist DHKP-C.

Also, 157 people were arrested, including 148 undocumented migrants and those sought for terror group membership.

More than 400 passports, over 145 identity cards, and 21 cheques worth 435,000 Turkish liras ($103,000) were seized during the police search at different addresses.

Turkish courts remanded 41 suspects in custody.