51 foreign nationals held in western Turkey

By Mustafa Gungor

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - A total of 51 foreign nationals who illegally entered Turkey were held in two different districts of Turkey’s western Izmir province, according to security sources on Wednesday.

Gendarmerie teams found out that eight Somalia, nine Congo, three Afghanistan, one Yemen, one Ethiopia, one Senegal, and five Djibouti nationals entered the country illegally in the Seferihisar district exercise area.

In the Urla district, there were 23 foreign nationals in two vehicles, trying to enter the country illegally. The drivers of the vehicles, O.C. and M.O., were arrested as they were suspected of organizing the incident.

Later, all were referred to a local migration office.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Turkey, which already hosts 4 million refugees – more than any country in the world – is taking new security measures both within and on borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

* Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara.