UPDATE - Nearly 90 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

UPDATES HEADLINE, LEDE; ADDS MIGRANT CAPTURED

By Mustafa Gungor

MERSIN, Turkey (AA) - At least 89 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey, according to the governor’s office on Tuesday.

In a statement, the governor’s office of southern Mersin province said a total of 42 Syrian migrants were rounded up by coastguard teams in a boat off Akdeniz district after receiving a tip-off.

A suspected human trafficker, who is also Syrian national, was arrested.

Separately in northwestern Edirne province, security units held 47 migrants during patrols in border villages, and Uzunkopru, Meric, and Havsa districts.

The migrants included Syrian, Palestinian, Pakistani, Afghan, and Somalian nationals.

They were referred to provincial migration authorities.

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

Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled at 10,000.