Over 770 irregular migrants held in northwestern Turkey

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EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - At least 777 irregular migrants were held in the northwestern province of Edirne, which borders Greece and Bulgaria.

The migrants trying to illegally cross over to Europe were caught by the provincial Gendarmerie Command and Mechanized Infantry Brigade Command, according to security sources on Tuesday.

They were captured during the two-day inspections in the Uzunkopru, Meric and Ipsala districts, as well as the border villages in the region, said the sources demanding anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The irregular migrants from Iran, Egypt, Guinea, Somalia, Morocco, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Iraq, Algeria, Syria and Bangladesh were later referred to provincial migration directorate.

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

Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

The migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev