Besieged in its last holdout in Baghouz, eastern Syria, the Islamic State (IS) has reached the end of the road in terms of territorial control, with Turkey standing out as an escape route for fleeing militants. Despite measures the authorities take, the militants sustain their efforts to sneak into Turkey and head to other countries after staying for a while. Smugglers play an important role in the infiltrations, charging thousands of dollars for each person they help cross the border.

Turkey has long been under fire for turning a blind eye to IS at its borders, failing to enforce enough measures and failing to properly prosecute IS members, letting many suspects walk free. Turkish officials respond angrily to such criticism. According to the government, no country can match Turkey’s efforts to combat the radical group.

After the 2012-2015 period, when Turkish borders were highly porous due to what amounted to a “free passage” policy, security operations targeting IS have notably increased in Turkey in recent years. According to official news agency Anatolia, 3,038 suspects were rounded up in operations against IS last year, with 408 of them sent to prison pending trial.

Eighty-seven suspects were detained in January — 36 of whom are in jail pending trial — Anatolia reported, heralding that IS “is being rooted out.”