Turkey held at least 500 irregular migrants over week

By Can Erozden</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces held at least 500 irregular migrants over the last week, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.</p> <p>The Turkish Coast Guard rounded up 536 irregular migrants in 12 interventions — including those on migratory routes — on Dec. 21-28, the ministry announced on its website.</p> <p>All the irregular migrants were held in western Turkey, since they were trying to cross to Greece.</p> <p>The ministry gave no details on the migrants’ nationalities.</p> <p>In addition, 12 human smugglers were arrested by Turkish gendarmes and police.</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 in 2011.</p> <p>