12 undocumented migrants held in southwest Turkey

By Ali Balli

MUGLA, Turkey

Security forces held 12 undocumented migrants during a police raid in southwestern Aegean province of Mugla on Saturday, according to a police source.

Police in district of Bodrum raided several addresses including hotels as part of an ongoing effort to combat human trafficking, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

The Afghan migrants, including were planning to reach Europe using illegal routes. They were taken to police headquarters in the city.

Police also arrested four others, including two foreigners, for being allegedly involved in organizing the illegal trip.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands of people have made the short but perilous journey across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe.

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