More than 500 irregular migrants detained in Turkey

At least 504 irregular migrants were detained across Turkey on March 12, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

In the northwestern province of Edirne bordering Greece and Bulgaria, 280 irregular migrants were detained by gendarmerie forces, said the agency.

In Çanakkale, another northwestern province, gendarmerie forces rounded up 36 migrants while they were preparing to cross into Greece illegally.

Separately, in northwestern Kırklaerli province, four migrants were detained by security forces at the border with Bulgaria.

In central Kayseri province, 75 irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally were detained by gendarmerie forces.

Four people were also detained and remanded in custody by a court over alleged human smuggling.

In eastern Bingöl province, gendarmerie forces detained 109 irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally.

Four people were detained 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 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

They were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.