Turkey held at least 500 irregular migrants over week

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Turkish security forces held at least 500 irregular migrants over the last week, the Interior Ministry has said.

The Turkish Coast Guard rounded up 536 irregular migrants in 12 interventions -- including those on migratory routes -- on Dec. 21-28, the ministry announced on its website on Dec. 29.

All the irregular migrants were held in western Turkey, since they were trying to cross to Greece.

The ministry gave no details on the migrants’ nationalities.

In addition, 12 human smugglers were arrested by Turkish gendarmes and police.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011.