660 undocumented migrants held in southern Turkey

By Suleyman Elcin

ANTALYA, Turkey

At least 660 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey on Friday, according to security sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said gendarmerie forces detained 151 migrants in Antalya province.

The migrants included Syrians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, as well as Palestinians, Nepalese, Rohingya, the sources added.

Also, three Syrian nationals were arrested for alleged human smuggling in the Mediterranean province of Antalya.

Separately in eastern Erzurum province, a total of 221 illegal migrants including Afghan and Pakistani nationals were held.

The migrants had reportedly entered Turkey through Iran.

Some 288 illegal migrants from Palestine, Algeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Morocco were also caught in northwestern Edirne province.

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

Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.