Some 235 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Mesut Karaduman

ANKARA

At least 235 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Tuesday.

In the northwestern province of Tekirdag, nine irregular migrants were held in the Suleymanpasa district by gendarmerie forces during regular patrols, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Security forces also arrested two alleged human smugglers.

In another operation, one migrant in a truck was held by gendarmerie forces during regular patrols in the eastern Elazig province.

Some other 225 irregular migrants were held by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, bordering Greece and Bulgaria.

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, when the Syrian civil war began.

Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

The irregular migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian, and Iraqi nationals.