Over 400 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Ferdi Uzun, Safat Yel, and Necat Hazar

AYDIN, IZMIR, VAN, Turkey (AA) - A total of 420 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said Wednesday.

In western Aydin province, 49 Syrians were rounded up off the coast of Cape Tekagac, said coast guard sources, who refused to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

They included 19 children who attempted to illegally cross into Greece.

In western Izmir province, 316 undocumented migrants were held during the past week in six separate operations, said gendarme sources, who refused to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Most of the migrants were Syrian nationals.

Also, five alleged human smugglers were held.

In eastern Van province, 55 people were held during traffic searches in the Baskale, Gevas, and Gurpinar districts.

The migrants were sent to regional immigration departments.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.