Over 1,200 undocumented migrants held in NW Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey

Turkish security forces have rounded up over 1,200 undocumented migrants in the northwestern province of Edirne bordering Greece and Bulgaria, a security source said Monday.

A total of 1,240 migrants were held for attempting to illegally reach Europe after three days of raids carried out by gendarme and border units in the villages of Bosnakoy, Yenikadin, and Orhaniye, and the districts of Meric, Enez, Uzunkopru, and Ipsala, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Most of the migrants were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Afghanistan, India, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

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

Among migrants held in the course of 2017 in Turkey, Pakistan is taking the lead with 15,000 nationals, while Afghanistan came second with 12,000, and Syria took third place with 10,000 migrants who were illegally seeking safe haven in Europe.