Over 450 irregular migrants held across Turkey

EDIRNE, Turkey

A total of 453 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Tuesday, according to security sources.

In the northwestern province of Edirne, which borders Greece and Bulgaria, gendarmerie forces rounded up 326 migrants, said a source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Coast Guard intercepted 78 migrants -- all Afghan nationals -- on a rubber boat off the coast of northwestern Canakkale province.

Some 49 irregular migrants were also held by gendarmerie forces in the eastern province of Van bordering Iran.

All of the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

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

* Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic