Turkey: Over 1,000 irregular migrants held in NW Edirne

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey

More than 1,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey's northwestern Edirne province on Monday, according to security sources.

Gendarmerie forces and border troops have been conducting operations in the province's districts of Ipsala, Meric, Kesan, and Uzunkopru for the last two days, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

A total of 1,023 irregular migrants -- including Syrians, Afghans, Moroccans, Iraqis and Bangladeshis -- were caught during the operations.

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

Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into 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.

*Writing by Sibel Ugurlu;