Turkey: 4,100+ irregular migrants held over past week

By Busra Nur Bilgic

ANKARA (AA) - At least 4,195 irregular migrants were held across Turkey over the past week, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from security sources.

As many as 1,865 irregular migrants were caught in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, which borders Greece and Bulgaria.

In the northwestern provinces of Kirklareli and Tekirdag, a total of 141 irregular migrants were held by gendarmerie forces over the past week.

In the coastal provinces of Canakkale, Balikesir, Aydin, Izmir, and Mugla, coast guard and gendarmerie rounded up a total of 1,621 migrants trying to cross over to Europe through Greece via the Aegean Sea.

During the week, a total of 55 people were arrested for alleged human smuggling.

In the eastern Van province, which borders Iran, a total of 530 migrants were held by gendarmerie and border forces.

Some 20 migrants were also held by police in Istanbul.

In the central Anatolian province Sivas, gendarmerie forces held 15 migrants.

Separately, three migrants were held by security forces in southern Osmaniye province.

The migrants included Pakistani, Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, Egyptian, and Bangladeshi nationals.

All held during the week were either taken to hospital for medical care or transferred to provincial migration offices.

In 2018 some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.