More than 100 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Necat Hazar and Cihan Demirci

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) – Security forces on Friday held more than 100 migrants, including children, during anti-human trafficking operations in Turkey's northwestern and southern provinces, according to security officials.

A total of 82 undocumented migrants were held as they attempted to cross into European countries from northeastern Turkey, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The migrants were nationals from Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine, Syria and Afghanistan, and the local court remanded two people in custody for smuggling, the sources added.

Gendarme units and border guards conducted operations in the Ipsala and Lalepasa districts, and the villages of Orhaniye, Bosnakoy, and Yenikadin.

In a separate incident, 25 other undocumented migrants -- including 11 children --were detained when police stopped a minibus carrying them illegally in Kirikhan in the southern Hatay province.

Separately, during anti-smuggling operations in the eastern province of Van, seven people were arrested after they were found in possession of over 75,000 packs of contraband cigarettes.