Over 1,500 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

By Ali Kemal Akan and Mehmet Yavas

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkish forces have held 1,564 undocumented migrants during anti-human trafficking operations across the country.

According to a statement by the Turkish General Staff on Friday, 1,315 people were caught when they illegally crossed from Syria into Turkey on Thursday. Four more people were also found attempting to cross from Turkey into Syria.

The statement added that one person was held for crossing into Turkey from Iraq, while 214 others were rounded up when they were attempting to illegally cross from Turkey into Greece.

On Friday, 30 Afghan nationals, who were attempting to illegally reach the Greek island of Lesbos, were held in the northwestern Canakkale province, a security official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency.

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