UPDATE 2 - 49 irregular migrants held in Turkey

UPDATES WITH DETAILS OF MORE MIGRANTS HELD; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Mesut Karaduman, Halil Ibrahim Sincar and Sener Toktas

TEKIRDAG/MARDIN/BITLIS, Turkey (AA) – At least 49 irregular migrants were held in different parts of Turkey on Wednesday, security sources and authorities said.

In the southeastern Mardin province, 11 people were rounded up in the Kiziltepe district bordering Syria, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Another 30 irregular migrants were held in the Tatvan district of the eastern Bitlis province, according the provincial governorate.

In a statement, the authority vowed to continue the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

In the northwestern Tekirdag province, eight irregular migrants were found on a bus that was stopped for a search in the Suleymanpasa district, according to security sources.

The individuals – all nationals of Iran and Iraq – were shifted to a repatriation center, while the bus driver was arrested, the sources said.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

The country is host to nearly 4 million refugees, including over 3.6 million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin in Ankara