KARS, Turkey
A total of seven irregular migrants were held in Turkey’s eastern province of Kars on Thursday.
Turkish gendarmerie teams stopped a passenger bus en route to Istanbul from the eastern Igdir province close to the Karahamza village of Kars.
During an identity check, Turkish forces held five Afghan and two Uzbek nationals who entered the country illegally.
The irregular immigrants, each fined 4,350 Turkish liras ($574) for illegal entry, were taken to the provincial migration authority.
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.
*Writing by Handan Kazanci in Istanbul
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