127 undocumented migrants held across Turkey

By Ahmet Caner Baysal

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - At least 127 undocumented migrants were held in Turkey’s Aegean and northwestern regions Sunday, according to security sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said coastguard units detained 84 migrants in the Aegean province of Izmir.

The migrants, including 39 Afghans, 39 Syrians and six Iraqis, were attempting to reach Greek islands in the Aegean Sea from Izmir’s Dikili and Foca districts by inflatable boats, said the sources.

Two more suspects were held in Izmir for human trafficking.

In Kirklareli province bordering Bulgaria, gendarmerie forces detained 23 undocumented migrants, said another security source.

Eighteen more undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshis and Pakistanis, were held by Turkish police in the northwestern district of Tekirdag after they attempted to head towards the Turkish border with a minibus, said a source.

The migrants were sent to the migration authorities in the provinces for legal proceedings of their deportation.

*Ozgun Tiran from Kirklareli and Alper Eral from Tekirdag contributed to this story.