At Least 140 İrregular Migrants Held Across Turkey

At least 140 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Friday.



In the western Izmir province, the coast guard held 95 irregular migrants -- including women and children -- in Dikili district, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.



All Afghan nationals, the migrants were planning to cross to the Greek islands, the source added.





Separately, in the southern border province of Hatay, the gendarmerie arrested 45 Syrian nationals in Yayladagi district.





All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration directorates.





Meanwhile, security forces arrested five people on suspicion of human trafficking in an operation in western Aydin province.





Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began. -