Over 1,600 undocumented migrants detained across Turkey

ANKARA

A total of 1,632 undocumented migrants were detained across Turkey on Jan. 2, according to military figures. 

Border troops detained a total of 1,556 migrants from Syria trying to illegally cross into Turkey, as well as five from Greece and two from Iran, according to the Turkish General Staff website. 

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe since the Syrian civil war begun.

Sixty-four migrants were also caught while trying to illegally enter Greece from Turkey, while five others were held at the Syrian border attempting to enter Syria.

On the country’s Iranian border, over 12,000 unlicensed packages of cigarettes were seized, according to the website.