Over 400 undocumented migrants held across Turkey

By Salih Baran, Mehmet Yavas and Zekeriye Simsek

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AA) - More than 400 undocumented migrants were held during anti-human trafficking operations across Turkey on Tuesday, according to security sources.

In northwestern Edirne province, security forces held 373 migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

They were reportedly trying to reach Europe using illegal routes, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restriction on speaking to the media.

In another operation in northwestern Canakkale province's Ayvacik district, 32 foreigners, including Afghan and Iranian nationals, were held when they attempted to reach Greek islands, another security source said.

Also in southern Gaziantep province, security forces stopped a minivan carrying 13 Syrians, who had illegally arrived in Turkey.

Two Syrians were remanded by a local court for human trafficking charges.

All the migrants held were sent to regional immigration departments.

So far, hundreds of thousands of people have made a short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe.

Nearly 2,000 refugees cross into Greek islands every month, according to UNHCR data.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as a number of boats carrying refugees sank. The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued thousands.