Over 250 migrants held in Turkey

By Cihan Demirci

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - Turkish forces have detained a total of 279 migrants during operations in several provinces, security officials said Thursday.

126 refugees, including Afghan, Pakistani, Palestinian, Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian and Paraguayan nationals, were held in northwestern Edirne province, a security official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency.

Two others, who are believed to be human traffickers, are also taken in custody, the official said.

In northwestern Kirklareli province, gendarmerie forces detected two groups preparing to go to Europe illegally, in Demirkoy and Kofcaz districts of Kirklareli.

44 migrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Syrian nationals were rounded up as they were trying to illegally cross the border, another security official said.

In southwestern Mugla province, coast guards held 109 refugees, including women and children, who were trying to reach Greek Island of Kos.

In a separate operation in western Izmir province, 66 migrants were detained near Bogaz Island as they were trying to reach Greek islands illegally.

In March 2016, Turkey and the EU signed a deal which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of some 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Since then, the number of refugees detained crossing the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece has fallen 85 percent, according to the Turkish Coast Guard.

* Safak Yel from Izmir, Ozgun Tiran from Kirklareli and Ali Balli from Mugla contributed to this report