Over 350 irregular migrants held across Turkey

EDIRNE, Turkey

At least 353 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Friday, according to security sources.

Some 166 irregular migrants were held by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern province of Edirne -- bordering Greece and Bulgaria -- a source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In the northwestern province of Tekirdag, gendarmerie forces held 25 irregular migrants.

In Balikesir, another northwestern province, 29 irregular migrants in a rubber boat were held by the Turkish Coast Guard.

Additionally, 44 migrants who were preparing to cross to Greece were held by gendarmerie forces in the Aegean Izmir province.

Some 47 irregular migrants in a rubber boat were held by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coast of the Aegean Aydin province.

In Mugla, another Aegean province, the Turkish Coast Guard held 42 Syrian migrants in two separate operations.

All the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates.

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

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

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic