29 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey

A total of 29 undocumented migrants were held in Turkey's northwestern province of Edirne, security sources said Tuesday.

According to the sources, 29 Pakistani nationals planning to illegally cross into Europe were held following a tip on migrant smuggling.

Police held migrants while they were in a truck in a village of the Meric district. The truck driver was arrested.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, the start of Syria's civil war.

Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled 10,000.