Turkey: 95 undocumented migrants held in Aegean

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin, Ali Balli and Suat Salgin

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) – At least 95 undocumented migrants were held in Turkey while 26 people were detained for alleged smuggling, security sources said Friday.

Coast guard units in the Mugla and Balikesir provinces detained 95 undocumented migrants in the Aegean Sea trying to cross to Greece, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The smuggling suspects were caught in the northwestern Edirne province allegedly trying to illegally import food, drinks, and electronics to Turkey, the sources added.

Turkey has been a major route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.