More than 90 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Esber Ayaydin

AYDIN, Turkey (AA) - A total of 94 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, according to security sources on Saturday.

In the western province of Aydin, the coast guard held a group of 94 migrants -- including 46 Syrians, 37 Afghans, five Sierra Leoneans, four Palestinians and two Malians -- off Kusadasi district on a dinghy. They were trying to reach Greece.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration directorates.

Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018 as of Oct. 15, according to the Interior Ministry.