06.04.2026 12:04
In the investigation regarding the incident in Bodrum, Muğla, where 19 irregular migrants lost their lives due to the sinking of a rubber boat, 12 out of 17 suspects who were referred to the courthouse have been arrested.
In the Bodrum district of Muğla, 19 illegal immigrants lost their lives due to the sinking of a rubber boat, and out of the 17 suspects sent to the courthouse as part of the investigation, 12 were arrested.
On April 1st, around 06:00, a rubber boat carrying illegal immigrants sank off the coast of Yalıkavak neighborhood in Bodrum. A large number of Coast Guard boats were dispatched to the area. A helicopter belonging to the İzmir Coast Guard Command was also sent to the region. Coast Guard teams reached the lifeless bodies of 19 illegal immigrants, including 9 children of Afghan nationality, and 20 illegal immigrants were rescued. The lifeless bodies of the illegal immigrants were taken to the Muğla Forensic Medicine Institution morgue for autopsy.
THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE 'STOP' WARNING
In a statement made by the Coast Guard after the incident, it was stated, "Upon the detection of a fast rubber boat carrying a large number of illegal immigrants by the Coast Guard Mobile Coastal Surveillance Vehicle (DENİZ-481) on duty in the Bodrum district of Muğla, 1 Coast Guard Ship (TCSG-302) was dispatched to the scene. Despite the visual and audible warnings made by the Coast Guard Ship that arrived at the scene, the rubber boat continued to flee at high speed and did not stop despite all warnings, and sank due to taking on water because of severe weather and sea conditions. Upon the report of irregular migrants falling into the sea, 1 Coast Guard Helicopter (TCSG-512) and 3 Coast Guard Boats (TCSG-31, KB-71, KB-88) were immediately dispatched to the area," it was said.
17 SUSPECTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
As part of the investigation conducted by the Bodrum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, teams from the Muğla Provincial Police Department began examining security cameras in the area and took statements from the survivors of the incident. The investigation revealed that the illegal immigrants had arrived in Bodrum from the provinces of Denizli, Uşak, İzmir, Balıkesir, Amasya, and Kırıkkale a day before the incident, and some of them were found to have stayed in a house in Gümbet neighborhood. 17 suspects, including J.H.H., who rented the house, and Ç.D. and H.Ö., who picked up 2 illegal immigrants from a nearby location, were taken into custody. After their procedures, all suspects were sent to the courthouse under heavy security measures yesterday morning.
While suspects J.J.S., J.H., H.B., Ö.B., H.Ö., Y.E., H.S., M.R., M.D., A.M.G., İ.A., and Y.Y. were arrested, the other 5 individuals were released under judicial control conditions.