Over 400 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Necat Hazar

VAN, Turkey

At least 419 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Wednesday.

In Ipekyolu district of eastern Van province, local security units raided a house in which they held 244 migrants who illegally entered the country.

Earlier in the Baskale district of Van, 43 migrants -- Afghan and Pakistani nationals -- were caught by gendarmerie forces.

Separately in northwestern Kirklareli province, security forces held 58 people attempting to illegally cross to Europe.

The arrests of the Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani nationals came in Demirkoy and Kofcaz districts of Kirklareli.

Also, gendarmerie units held 42 irregular migrants in Ayvacik district of the northwestern province of Canakkale, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The migrants, including women and children, were from Afghanistan, the sources added.

In the central Kirsehir province, 32 Afghan nationals, including five children, were held with fake identity cards in their possession.

The driver of the truck carrying irregular migrants was arrested.

All of the migrants were referred to the provincial migration offices.

Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.