ANKARA

As many as 44 irregular migrants from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Iran were held in Turkey’s capital Ankara, security officials said on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided locations in four districts, and took the migrants into custody.

Efforts have been launched to transfer them to a repatriation center following security procedures.

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.

It hosts nearly 4 million refugees, including over 3.6 million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.

*Writing by Merve Berker

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