UPDATE - Over 50 irregular migrants held across Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE MIGRANTS HELD IN KIRKLARELI

By Mesut Karaduman and Erdal Turkoglu

TEKIRDAG / HATAY, Turkey (AA) - A total of 54 irregular migrants were held in Turkey's northwestern Tekirdag, Kirklareli and southern Hatay provinces, security sources said on Wednesday.

In Suleymanpasa district of Tekirdag province, 12 migrants -- all Pakistani nationals -- were rounded up by the police, said a police source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants were also carrying an inflatable boat, the source added.

Separately, 23 irregular migrants -- all Syrian nationals -- were held in Altinozu district of Hatay when they were trying to illegally enter Turkey from Syria, another source said.

Also, 19 irregular migrants were held in northwestern Kirklareli province, said another security source.

The gendarmerie forces rounded up the migrants -- Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq nationals -- who were preparing to enter Europe by using illegal ways.

They were referred to provincial migration directorates.

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

At least 9,947 irregular migrants trying to cross to Greek islands were also rounded up in southern Aegean in 2018.

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

*Ozgun Tiran in Kirklareli contributed to this report