31 December 2018•Update: 31 December 2018
By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA
At least 1,746 terrorists were "neutralized" in counter-terror operations across Turkey in 2018, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
The ministry said in a statement that around 131,000 anti-terror operations were conducted between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.
The security forces arrested some 235,000 suspects for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling, some 75,000 others for aiding and abetting terror organizations, and more than 6,000 suspects for human trafficking.
The forces also seized some 1,650 hand grenades, 23 tons of explosive material, over 800 improvised explosives, some 1,100 long-barreled weapons and 503,000 ammunition.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
A total of 265,169 irregular migrants were caught during the operations, according to the statement.
Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.
