Turkey apprehends 4,500 human smugglers in 2017

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the country's security forces have apprehended 4,500 human smugglers last year.

During a visit to Ukraine on Thursday, Soylu said Turkey preferred to “manage migration” rather than “prevent” it.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

Among migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.