UPDATE – Some 285 irregular migrants held in western Turkey

UPDATES WITH NUMBER OF MIGRANTS HELD; MODIFIES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE</p> <p>By Esber Ayaydin</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – At least 285 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Tuesday. </p> <p>In the Aegean Izmir province, 58 migrants — including women and children — were held in a rubber boat off the coast of Dikili, said a security source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.</p> <p>At least 42 Syrians, eight Iraqis and eight Palestinians were referred to provincial migration offices.</p> <p>Separately, 16 others were held from a rubber boat off the coast of Cesme, Izmir while trying to reach Greece.</p> <p>Some 194 irregular migrants were rounded up by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, bordering Bulgaria and Greece. </p> <p>In a separate operation in the same province, police held six irregular migrants during regular patrols. </p> <p>Two human smugglers were arrested in the operation.</p> <p>In another northwestern province Tekirdag, police nabbed 11 irregular migrants — all Pakistani nationals — during regular patrols. </p> <p>Four people were arrested for alleged human smuggling.</p> <p>Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.</p> <p>More than 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.