A total of 50 suspects with links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) have been handed over to Turkish authorities after being caught while trying to illegally cross to the Greek island of Rhodes from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

A statement issued Monday by the Turkish interior ministry said that the FETÖ-linked servicemen, teachers and women were captured on June 28.

The statement added that the 50 suspects were passed on to the Interpol Department of the Turkish General Directorate of Security, saying they would undergo necessary legal procedures at the chief public prosecutor's offices that previously issued the arrest warrants.

The FETÖ terrorist group, accused of carrying out the July 15, 2016 coup attempt through its infiltrators in the military, is known for its widespread clout in all sectors, from law enforcement and military to bureaucracy and judiciary.

Tens of thousands of people have been arrested or detained since the failed coup attempt, with a similar number having been dismissed from public sector jobs for links to the terrorist group.