Over 40 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Burak Akay

ANKARA (AA) - At least 43 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Saturday.

In the northwestern province of Canakkale, 24 irregular migrants were held in the Biga district by the police, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Security forces also arrested three alleged human smugglers.

Separately, 19 migrants in a rubber boat were held by the Turkish Coast Guard in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Izmir.

All the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.

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

Most of the irregular migrants were Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.