Turkey: 2,600+ irregular migrants held over past week

ANKARA

At least 2,649 irregular migrants were held across Turkey over the past week, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from security sources.

As many as 1,587 irregular migrants were caught in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, which borders Greece and Bulgaria.

Additionally, 10 people died and 30 were injured when a vehicle carrying irregular migrants crashed in Edirne last Wednesday.

In the northwestern provinces of Kocaeli, Kirklareli and Tekirdag, a total of 93 irregular migrants were held by gendarmerie forces over the past week.

In the coastal provinces of Mersin, Canakkale, Balikesir, Aydin, Izmir, and Mugla, coast guard and gendarmerie forces rounded up a total of 662 migrants trying to cross over to Europe through Greece.

Separately, border forces in the southern Hatay province caught 202 migrants reportedly entering Turkey illegally from Syria.

In the eastern Van province, which borders Iran, a total of 64 migrants were held by gendarmerie and border forces.

Some 41 irregular migrants were also held by police in the central Eskisehir and Cankiri provinces.

Security forces also arrested 25 people for alleged human smuggling.

The migrants included Pakistani, Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, Egyptian, and Bangladeshi nationals.

All of the migrants held during the week were either taken to hospital for medical care or transferred to provincial migration offices.

In 2018 some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.