At least 84 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Ozkan Bilgin and Oktay Ozden

VAN/ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - At least 84 irregular migrants were held in Turkey over the past day, authorities said on Monday.

According to a statement by the governorate of the eastern Van province, some 71 irregular migrants were found in a vehicle early Sunday during local gendarmerie forces' patrol at a local highway.

The two suspects, including the driver of the vehicle, were arrested by the gendarmerie teams, the statement noted, saying the vehicle only had a 14-seat capacity.

Separately, a total of 13 irregular migrants were also held at the Mediterranean province of Antalya's Manavgat district.

Acting on a tip, local gendarmerie forces found the migrants -- all Iranian nationals -- in a boat at a fishing port in Manavgat.

Two of the Iranian suspects were arrested over alleged human trafficking.

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.