Nearly 350 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Busra Nur Bilgic </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – At least 344 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Friday, according to multiple security sources. </p> <p>In the northwestern Edirne province — bordering Greece and Bulgaria — gendarmerie forces held 19 irregular migrants, said a source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. </p> <p>Separately, the Coast Guard held 23 irregular migrants on a rubber boat off the coast of Edirne’s Enez district. </p> <p>In another northwestern province Kirklareli, gendarmerie forces nabbed 30 irregular migrants. </p> <p>Meanwhile, 21 irregular migrants were held by the police in the northwestern Tekirdag province. </p> <p>Some 52 irregular migrants, who were trying to cross Greece, were held by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coast of Canakkale in the Aegean region.</p> <p>In another Canakkale operation, 19 irregular migrants aboard rubber boats were rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard when a boat broke down off the coast of Ayvacik district.</p> <p>The Coast Guard also held 59 irregular migrants on a rubber boat in the Aegean province of Izmir. </p> <p>In another operation, 95 irregular migrants — who reportedly entered Turkey illegally — held in the Mediterranean Osmaniye province. </p> <p>Separately, police arrested 26 irregular migrants in the central Nigde province during regular patrols.</p> <p>Two people were also arrested over the suspicion of human smugglers. </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 the beginning of the civil war in Syria. </p> <p>Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry. The migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.