UPDATE - 46 irregular migrants held across Turkey

UPDATES TOTAL NUMBER OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS HELD; ADDS DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Arif Yavuz and Ugur Subasi

AFYONKARAHISAR / SAKARYA, Turkey (AA) - A total of 46 irregular migrants were held by Turkish security forces on Saturday.

In the eastern province of Afyonkarahisar, 25 irregular migrants, all of whom were Afghan nationals, were held by the gendarmerie forces.

The migrants entered Turkey through illegal means, security sources said.

Their procedures at the police department are ongoing.

In another operation conducted in the northwestern province of Sakarya, 21 irregular migrants, including two Iraqi nationals who were wanted on red notice and another Iraqi national with a deportation warrant, were held by the police.

The operations were conducted to combat human trafficking as well as to find wanted suspects. As part of these operations, the security teams checked gardens, parks, streets, train stations, bus terminals, ports as well as public and private vehicles.

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

Turkey hosts nearly 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara