More than 1 million Turkish citizens entered Türkiye through Meriç border crossings in three weeks

More than one million Turkish citizens entered Türkiye between 22 June and 15 July as part of the annual summer migration, with a significant number crossing through border gates in the Meriç region, according to data reported by Greek media.

The seasonal movement of Turkish citizens living abroad has once again turned the Meriç border crossings into some of the busiest points along the Türkiye-Greece border. Heavy traffic has been recorded particularly at the Kastanies and Kipi border gates, where vehicle queues have stretched for kilometers and waiting times have reached four to five hours.

The congestion is expected to increase further in August, when the summer travel season reaches its peak, raising concerns over possible record levels of border crossings.

The border points are also facing additional pressure from Turkish tourists traveling to Greece for summer holidays, with Dedeağaç emerging as one of the most popular destinations. As a result, travelers returning to Türkiye and visitors heading to Greece are using the same crossings, creating heavy traffic and long waiting periods under high temperatures.

Images from Kastanies over the previous weekend showed severe congestion, with hundreds of vehicles remaining stationary for extended periods. The situation caused traffic disruptions inside and around the village, while tensions reportedly emerged among some drivers.

Police union calls for urgent measures

The Union of Police Officers of Orestiada said officers at the Kastanies Police Station are making "extraordinary efforts" under difficult conditions to manage the high volume of traffic and maintain the operation of the border crossing.

The union said the main issue stems from insufficient and outdated infrastructure at the Kastanies Customs Station, which continues to operate with temporary container-type facilities for passenger and vehicle processing.

It also highlighted that the implementation of a new biometric data collection system for third-country nationals has further increased processing times and contributed to delays.

The union criticized the lack of a modern road connection to one of Greece’s most important land border crossings, noting that thousands of vehicles continue to pass through the small village of Kastanies, causing major disruption for residents.

Calls for infrastructure upgrades

Police representatives said they had warned authorities about the problems since last year and requested both the upgrading of Kastanies Customs Station and the expansion of existing infrastructure.

Although the modernization of the border facility has reportedly been approved, the exact timeline for completion remains unclear. The union called for immediate temporary measures to reduce congestion during periods of increased traffic.

The police union also stated that the recent delays were not caused by Greek border controls but by slow processing on the Turkish side, which resulted in vehicle accumulation.

"The state must finally recognize that the operation of such an important gateway cannot rely solely on the dedication and extraordinary efforts of police officers," the union said, calling for immediate and effective solutions.