UPDATE - More than 300 undocumented migrants held across Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE ARRESTS ACROSS TURKEY, CHANGES HEADLINE

By Hakan Firik and Durmus Genc

BALIKESIR/MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - At least 376 migrants were held during anti-human trafficking operations across Turkey on Monday, according to a statement from the Coast Guard Command.

In northwestern Balikesir province's Ayvalik district, 39 Syrians, including 16 children, were held when they attempted to reach Greek islands, the statement said.

Coastguards held 60 more Syrians, including 27 children on a boat off Altinova district, it said.

A suspected human trafficker was also arrested.

In northwestern Edirne province, security forces held 232 migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Palestine, Nepal and Bangladesh.

They were reportedly trying to reach Europe using illegal routes.

In western Mugla province's Bodrum district, 22 Syrians were held, while in Fethiye district coastguards stopped a boat full of 23 people from Syria and Palestine.

Three human traffickers were also arrested during Mugla operations who were later sent to a local court.

All the migrants held were sent to regional immigration departments.

So far, hundreds of thousands of people have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe.

Nearly 2,000 refugees per month cross into Greek islands, according to the UNHCR data.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as a number of boats carrying refugees sank. The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued thousands.