Turkish security forces launched an operation on Saturday against illegal migrants coming from Syria and Central Asia in the western province of Çanakkale after receiving a tip-off.
During the operation, a total of 435 illegal migrants were arrested. 345 migrants are from Syria, 64 are from Afghanistan, 19 are from Myanmar and 7 are from Pakistan. Turkish officials also arrested three people helping the migrants to flee.
The migrants reportedly were planning to escape to Greece's Lesbos Island. Officials also captured two boats and dozens of life vests.
After being questioned, the immigrants were brought to the Foreigners Deportation Center.
Turkey's western coast, which brackets the Aegean Sea with Greece, an EU country, on the far side, is constantly receiving immigrants – especially from Syria – who are accompanied with their smugglers, abandoned by their smugglers, or simply left afloat to fend for themselves, on their journey which seemingly will lead them to a better standard of living in Europe. The immigrants are often charged an astronomical amount of thousands of dollars for the boat trip of their life, and usually abandoned after their traffickers receive their payment.
