By Ozgur Tiran
KIRKLARELI, Turkey (AA) – At least 260 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Thursday.
In northwestern Kirklareli province, security forces held 75 people attempting to illegally cross to Europe.
The arrests of the Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani nationals came in Luleburgaz and Kofcaz districts.
Also, two suspects were remanded into custody for organizing the human smuggling.
In eastern Van province, the local gendarmerie held 63 Afghan migrants, including children, in Baskale district during a regular patrol.
Some 34 irregular migrants were also held in Fethiye district in the Aegean Mugla province after the coast guard stopped a boat off the province.
The migrants — Syrian, Pakistani, Palestinian and Iraqi nationals — were planning to cross to Greece.
Also, in Edirne, another northwestern province, the gendarmerie held 60 irregular migrants, including women and children.
Among the migrants were Nepali and Pakistani nationals.
All the migrants were referred to provincial migration authorities.
Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, the beginning of Syria's civil war.
Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan — around 15,000 — followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.
