85 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Burak Milli and Mesut Varol

HATAY / VAN, Turkey (AA) – At least 85 irregular migrants were held by security forces in Turkey’s southern Hatay and eastern Van provinces on Saturday.

The gendarmerie forces conducted an operation in the Reyhanli town of Hatay after receiving a tip-off about migrants.

Forty-three irregular migrants who entered the country illegally were held, and a person identified by the initials A. E. and suspected of organizing their travel was arrested and remanded in custody over migrant smuggling.

The migrants were transferred to the local migration office for routine procedures.

Separately, police held 42 irregular migrants in a barn in the Ipekyolu town of Van.

While the migrants were transferred to the local migration office after health check, legal action was launched against the owners of the barn and the organizers.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Turkey, which already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any country in the world, is taking new security measures on its borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara