Around 150 irregular migrants held across Turkey

ANKARA (AA) – A least 142 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Wednesday, according to security sources.</p> <p>The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said 44 irregular migrants were seized in a sailboat in the Aegean Sea off the coast of western Mugla province.</p> <p>The migrants were trying to cross to Greece, sources said.</p> <p>In eastern province of Van and Erzincan, security forces rounded up 69 irregular migrants.</p> <p>Separately, border forces held 29 Syrians, who were trying to illegally enter Turkey in southern Hatay province, the sources added.</p> <p>Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. </p> <p>Some 205,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018 as of Oct. 15, according to the Interior Ministry.</p> <p>The irregular migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.