315 migrants captured on Aegean despite latest tragedy

ÇANAKKALE – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

Turkish gendarmerie forces captured some 315 migrants trying to cross to the Greek islands from the northwestern province of Çanakkale, where the latest migrant tragedy saw 39 people, including children, killed off the Ayvacık district on Jan. 30.

Gendarmerie teams caught 315 migrants of Syrian, Afghan and Moroccan origin during operations throughout the early hours of Feb. 1.  

In addition, some six suspected human smugglers were also detained, while four minibuses allegedly used for transporting migrants were confiscated.

The migrants have been sent to a repatriation center in Ayvacık. 

Some 39 migrants drowned off the Ayvacık coast on Jan. 30 after their boat, bound for the Greek island of Lesbos, sunk in the Aegean.