Over 60 undocumented migrants held in NW Turkey

By Ozgun Tiran, Mehmet Yavas, and Burak Akay

CANAKKALE / KIRKLARELI, Turkey

More than 60 undocumented migrants were held in the northwestern Turkish provinces of Canakkale and Kirklareli, security sources said on Saturday.

In Canakklale, gendarmes held a total of 34 Afghan migrants in the Koyunevi district trying to cross into Greece, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In the northwestern province of Kirklareli, 28 Syrian and Pakistani migrants trying to illegally cross into European countries were also held.

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

Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled 10,000.