Over 900 irregular migrants held across Turkey

ANKARA

A total of 918 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Wednesday, according to security sources.

As many as 721 migrants were caught in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, which borders Greece and Bulgaria, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Additionally, the Turkish Coast Guard also rounded up 65 migrants, including 13 children off the coast of Enez district of Edirne province.

In the northwestern province of Canakkale, 48 irregular migrants were held in the Ezine district by gendarmerie forces.

Separately, 12 migrants were held by gendarmerie forces in the coastal district of Milas in the southwestern Mugla province.

Also, in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, a total of nine migrants were held by police.

Some 14 irregular migrants, including five children -- who had entered Turkey illegally -- were held by gendarmerie forces in the Baskale district of the eastern Van province.

In the northwestern Balikesir province, 49 irregular migrants -- including women and children -- were held by the Coast Guard off the coast of Ayvalik.

All of the migrants were later referred to the provincial migration directorate.

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

Some 260,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.