Skip to main content

Smuggling across Syrian-Turkish border grows despite risks

Illegal border entries lead to arrests, deportations and even death.
Syrians coming from Turkey go through the Bab al-Salame crossing in the border town of Azaz in the rebel-held north of Aleppo province, to spend the last days of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday early next month with family, Syria, April 18, 2022.
Read in 

The deteriorating security, economic, and living conditions in Syria have pushed many young people to seek asylum outside their homeland — in Turkey or Europe — in a bid to overcome life’s difficulties and problems and lead a decent life away from the conflict in their country.

Although human smuggling is a major crime and is illegal, it is very common in Syria, whether to neighboring countries or within various parts of Syria where different authorities have influence.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.