At least 430 irregular migrants held in NW Turkey

EDIRNE, Turkey

At least 430 irregular migrants were held in a border city of Turkey in the northwest, security sources said on Wednesday.

The migrants -- who attempted to cross to Europe illegally -- were arrested in Edirne, a Turkish province bordering Greece and Bulgaria, by the local gendarmerie forces.

The arrests came after two-days of inspections by the local gendarmerie forces in the Ipsala, Meric, and Uzunkopru districts.

The irregular migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Bangladesh were later referred to provincial migration directorate.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

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

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur