Merve Aydoğan
May 18, 2018•Update: May 18, 2018
By Ramazan Ercan
IZMIR, Turkey
Security forces held 237 undocumented migrants across Turkey on Friday, according to a security source.
In the Aegean province of Izmir, 91 undocumented migrants were held while they attempted to cross into Greece, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said.
Coast guard units had stopped a boat in Izmir's Dikili district in the Madra Creek; 18 Syrians, 11 Senegalese, nine Central Africans, four Gambians and another migrant from Gine, Gabon and Angola were found aboard. Another 43 Syrians were held in Izmir's Karaburun district.
Also, 82 undocumented migrants were held in Bodrum in southwestern Mugla province.
Two Georgian national suspects were also arrested for human smuggling.
In western Aydin province, 47 Syrians were rounded up off the coast of Cape Tekagac, the coast guard source, who refused to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said.
Separately, in southern Adana province, three Afghans, 11 Bangladeshis and three Iranians who were planning to cross into Europe via Turkey were held.
Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.
Among migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.
There has been a 60 percent increase in migrant flow since 2016. The number was 31,000 in 2016.
