At least 66 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Ozgun Tiran and Burak Akay

KIRKLARELI / CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) - At least 66 irregular migrant were held across Turkey, security sources said on Saturday.

In the northwestern province of Kirklareli, gendarmerie forces received a tip that three groups of migrants were preparing to illegally cross to Bulgaria, said a security source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

A total of 23 migrants -- Iraq and Afghan nationals -- were caught in Demirkoy near the Derekoy border gate, a security source added.

In a separate operation in the northwestern Canakkale province, the Turkish Coast Guard rounded up 43 irregular migrants in a boat, off the coast of Ayvacik.

The Afghan-origin migrants, who were reportedly trying to cross to Greece, were referred to provincial migration directorates.

In recent years Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, the start of the Syrian civil war .

Over 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.