49 irregular migrants were arrested in western Turkey

49 irregular migrants were arrested in western Turkey

 Gendarmerie and border police have seized dozens of irregular migrants in a rubber boat near the coast of the western province of Aydin, the Anatolian news agency reported on Monday.

It said the forces had seized 49 irregular migrants trying to cross Turkey illegally in Europe.

The detainees were 31 Syrians and 18 Iraqis.

According to Turkish data, more than 250,000 irregular migrants were arrested in 2018 and the authorities deported some 54,000 migrants to their countries.

The EU has reached an agreement with Turkey in 2016, which provides for Ankara to tighten control over the country´s borders, in return for financial aid to support refugees hosted by Turkey on its territory.