180 undocumented migrants held in northwestern Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey

At least 180 undocumented migrants were held in northwestern Edirne province on Monday, according to a gendarmerie source.

Gendarmerie forces and border units held the migrants during operations in Meric, Orhaniye, Bosnakoy and Ipsala districts of the province, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

A total of 180 people, among them Syrians, Afghans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, Algerians, Palestinians and Moroccans were held.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

Among migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totalled about 10,000.

There has been a 60 percent increase in migrant flow since 2016. The number was 31,000 in 2016.