MUGLA, Turkey

Turkish gendarmerie forces on Monday held 120 irregular migrants in southwestern Mugla province, according to security sources.

Gendarmerie forces in Fethiye district acted on a tip off that a group of asylum seekers were preparing to flee to Greece.

After a follow-up, the migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Yemen, who got on a boat, were caught.

They will be transferred to the provincial migration management directorate after procedures.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those escaping war and persecution.