Nearly 50 irregular migrants held in NW Turkey

Migrants held in northwestern Edirne, Canakkale provinces, sent to migration directorates

By Burak Akay

ANKARA (AA) - At least 49 irregular migrants were held in northwestern Turkey, security sources said on Thursday.

In the northwestern province of Canakkale, 39 Afghan and Pakistan nationals preparing to cross into Greece illegally were held in the Ayvacik district by gendarmerie forces, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In a separate operation in Edirne -- bordering Greece and Bulgaria -- gendarmerie forces rounded up 10 irregular migrants.

Six human smugglers were also arrested in the operation.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration directorates.

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

More than 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to Turkey's Interior Ministry.

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