139 irregular migrants held in Turkey’s Izmir province

<p>By Safak Yel</p> <p>IZMIR, Turkey (AA) – A total of 139 irregular migrants were held in the Cesme, Menderes and Urla districts of Turkey’s Izmir province Wednesday.</p> <p>Security personnel spotted groups of migrants who were attempting to illegally cross into Europe.</p> <p>The irregular migrants, who were aboard rubber boats, were held by the Turkish Coast Guard off the country’s western coast.</p> <p>All of the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates. </p> <p>Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of Syria’s civil war. </p> <p>Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.</p> *Writing by Burak Bir