More than 500 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Salih Baran </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – At least 504 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said Tuesday. </p> <p>In the northwestern province of Edirne bordering Greece and Bulgaria, 280 irregular migrants were detained by gendarmerie forces, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. </p> <p>In Canakkale, another northwestern province, gendarmerie forces rounded up 36 migrants while they were preparing to cross into Greece illegally. </p> <p>Separately, in northwestern Kirklareli province, four migrants were held by security forces at the border with Bulgaria. </p> <p>In central Kayseri province, 75 irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally were held by gendarmerie forces. </p> <p>Four people were also arrested and remanded in custody by a court over alleged human smuggling. </p> <p>In eastern Bingol province, gendarmerie forces held 109 irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally. </p> <p>Four people were arrested for alleged human smuggling. </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 to Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began. </p> <p>Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry. </p> <p>They were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals. </p> <p>* Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic