By Ali Riza Akkir

MUGLA, Turkey

At least 186 undocumented migrants were held in western Turkey, Turkish security sources said Thursday.

Provincial gendarmerie said that a total of 126 undocumented migrants were held in operations carried out in Mugla, a southwestern coastal province.

The Pakistani and Bangladeshi migrants were trying to cross to Greece illegally by sea, the gendarmerie added.

They were later referred to provincial migration authorities.

Separately, in the northwestern Edirne province, Turkish border security forces held 60 undocumented migrants during surveillance in the Uzunkopru, Havsa and Meric districts.

The migrants were Moroccan, Syrian, Palestinian, Afghan and Somali nationals.

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