At least 70 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Mesut Varol and Kadir Yildiz

VAN/KOCAELI, Turkey (AA) - At least 70 irregular migrants were held in Turkey on Friday, local authorities said.

As many as 36 irregular migrants were held in the Ipekyolu district of the eastern Van province, the local police department said in a statement.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided three addresses where 36 irregular migrants were held.

They also arrested two organizers who were found to be Afghan nationals.

Authorities started proceedings against 16 people suspected of organizing the illegal travels in the recent week and 91 people in the last eight months.

Later in the day, 27 more irregular migrants, all Afghan nationals, were held in Van’s Gevas district, according to a statement by the governor’s office.

The migrants were hiding in under briquets when the gendarmerie forces chased and stopped the truck carrying them.

Additionally, seven irregular migrants were held in the Kartepe district of Kocaeli province, according to a statement by the local police department.

Turkish police also arrested two people accused of human smuggling.

Security sources said the migrants would be transferred to the local migration offices after routine procedures.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants 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 on its borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.