Over 660 irregular migrants held across Turkey

ANKARA

At least 664 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Sunday, according to security sources.

In Turkey’s Aegean Aydin province, 34 irregular migrants on a rubber boat were held by the Turkish Coast Guard, said a source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Separately, 252 irregular migrants who reportedly entered Turkey illegally were held in eastern province of Van, another source said.

Also, gendarmerie forces held six irregular migrants -- all Bangladeshi nationals -- in northwestern Tekirdag province.

In northwestern Edirne province that borders Greece and Bulgaria, the gendarmerie forces held 372 migrants who were trying to go abroad using illegal routes.

One suspect also arrested for alleged human smuggling.

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

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

Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry. The migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.