Over 470 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Salih Baran and Mehmet Yavas</p> <p>EDIRNE/CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) – At least 473 irregular migrants were held in Turkey on Tuesday, according to security sources.</p> <p>In the northwestern Edirne province, gendarmerie forces and border troops launched an operation in Havsa, Ipsala, Meric, and Uzunkopru districts and held 442 irregular migrants, said a source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.</p> <p>The migrants — including Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, Moroccan, and Afghan nationals — were attempting to illegally cross to Europe.</p> <p>Separately, in an operation in Canakkale, an Aegean province, the gendarmerie held 31 Afghan irregular migrants –including children and women — who were trying to illegally cross to Greece.</p> <p>All 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, the beginning of the Syrian civil war.</p> <p>Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.</p> <p>*Writing by Burak Bir