76 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Ozgur Tiran

ANKARA

A total of 76 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Wednesday.

In the northwestern province of Kirklareli, gendarmerie forces received a tip that two groups of migrants were preparing to illegally cross to Bulgaria, said a security source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

At least 19 Afghan nationals were caught in the village of Karamesutlu and near the Derekoy border gate.

In the southern border province of Gaziantep, security forces stopped a vehicle carrying seven Syrians who had come to Turkey illegally.

In the Aegean Izmir province, a night watchmen in the Konak district held 50 irregular migrants -- including women and children -- when they stopped a suspicious vehicle.

The migrants were mostly African nationals.

All the migrants held were sent to regional immigration departments.

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