IZMIR - Turkish security forces captured 97 illegal immigrants in Urla and Karaburun towns and center of Aegean Izmir province, sources said on Thursday.
Security forces detained 39 Pakistanis, 44 Bangladeshis, six Indians, six Turks, one Mauritanian and one Egyptian, who wanted to sneak into Greece, in center and towns of Izmir.
Three human traffickers were also captured in the operations.
Illegal immigrants will be deported following legal proceedings while nine Turks, including six illegal immigrants and three human traffickers, will be transferred to judicial organs.
Turkey is a route of illegal migration due to its geographical location lying between Asia and Europe like a bridge with its rough mountainous eastern and southeastern borders difficult to control. Illegal immigrants from Middle Eastern, Asian and Far Eastern countries generally use this route to sneak into European countries.
In the West, northwestern Edirne province and some other Aegean provinces are routes for illegal immigrants to cross the border. Particularly Meric River, a natural border between Turkey and Greece, and Aegean provinces which are close to Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea are used by illegal immigrants to go to European countries.
In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the number of illegal immigrants who were caught by the Turkish security forces who stepped up security measures against illegal migration.
(BRC-AÖ) 03.06.2004