Turkish Coast Guard arrests wanted Northern Cyprus citizen in Demre

The Turkish Coast Guard has apprehended a Northern Cyprus citizen who was wanted by authorities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The individual, identified as S. A., was caught during an operation in the Demre district of Antalya.

The arrest followed a long-term surveillance operation that began on June 1. Coast Guard units had been monitoring an unidentified speedboat suspected of involvement in migrant smuggling after it was first spotted off the coast of Silifke, Mersin. The vessel was tracked through the Bodrum/Muğla route before entering the Mediterranean Regional Command's area of responsibility.

During a control operation on August 28, authorities identified two individuals on the boat: O. T. and S. A. Intelligence work revealed that S. A. had entered Turkey through illegal means and was a fugitive with an active arrest warrant in Northern Cyprus. Following a targeted operation on September 1, S. A. was taken into custody and transferred to the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for deportation proceedings.