ISTANBUL - Turkish authorities have apprehended over the past week a reported 4,564 migrants and refugees who were trying to cross the borders with the European Union or to enter the country without regular documents. They included 1,069 who were intercepted at sea. The announcement was made by the Turkish interior ministry, which added that 75 suspected human traffickers were arrested over that period.

Ever since the controversial agreement with Brussels in 2016, the number of migrants and refugees reaching the EU, mainly Greece, daily from Turkey has decreased significantly. Over the last few weeks, however, European authorities have reported an increase in arrivals.