Over 2,200 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA

Turkish forces rounded up more than 2,200 across the country, according to statement and officials on Tuesday.

In a statement, Turkish General Staff said a border unit of Land Forces Command detained 2,004 undocumented migrants on Monday when they attempted to illegally cross into Turkey from Syria.

Two migrants were also found attempted to cross into Syria from Turkey, it said.

26 undocumented migrants were also rounded up when they attempted to cross into Turkey from Iraq, while 100 others were held in western Turkey in an attempt to cross into Turkey from Greece, the statement added.

151 more undocumented migrants were held in separate operations across the country on Monday, security officials said.

In northwestern province of Kirklareli, gendarmerie held 43 people -- including Iranian, Pakistani and Afghan nationals -- when they attempted to travel to Europe through Turkey.

In Hatay province of southern Turkey, gendarmerie found 31 Syrians migrants.

Other 37 migrants were rounded up in eastern Erzurum province, when the human traffickers left them at the province’s bus terminal. They included Syrian, Afghan and Pakistani nationals, who tried to enter Turkey from Iran.

In northwestern Canakkale province, gendarmerie detained 40 foreign nationals when it stopped a van in Ayvacik district. The migrants tried to cross into Greek island of Lesbos.

Other two, who allegedly made the illegal crossing, were remanded into custody.

*Ozgun Tiran in Kirikkale, Erdal Turkoglu in Hatay, Fahrettin Gok in Erzurum and Burak Akay in Canakkale contributed this story.