A total of 351 irregular migrants were apprehended across Turkey on Monday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, citing security sources.
Coast Guard units in the Aegean province of İzmir identified three dinghies carrying 139 irregular migrants from various countries trying to cross to the Greek islands, said a source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
Security forces also intercepted 44 additional migrants — including Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi nationals — in the same province, another source said.
Separately, gendarmes in the northwestern province of Kırklareli stopped 32 irregular migrants when they were preparing to illegally cross the border into Bulgaria.
In the eastern province of Van, security patrols caught 136 migrants in two separate operations. Two suspects were arrested on alleged human smuggling charges.
In addition, a total of 429 migrants, mostly Syrians, were detained by security forces in İzmir province Aug. 17-26.