Over 65 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Seyhan Kirici, Mehmet Yavas, and Burak Akay

BALIKESIR, Turkey (AA) - Security forces on Friday held a total of 68 undocumented migrants across Turkey, officials said.

In the northwestern Canakkale province, gendarmerie forces rounded up 26 Syrians, Afghans, Iranians, and South Africans in the village of Korubasi, Ayvacik, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Separately in northwestern Balikesir, 42 Afghans, Africans, and Syrians who were planning to cross into Europe through Turkey were held in Altieylul, according to a statement by the governor's office.

The migrants were sent to regional immigration departments, the statement said.

Among migrants held last year in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totalled about 10,000.

Since 2016, there has been a 60 percent increase in migrant flow in Turkey. The number was 31,000 in 2016.