At least 160 Syrians held in Turkey’s Aegean province

İZMİR

At least 160 Syrians were held in the Aegean province of İzmir after they attempted to cross into Greece using an illegal route on Jan. 12, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing a security official.

The detentions were made after gendarmerie teams in İzmir carried out five operations in the Çeşme and Dikili districts of the city.

All of them were transferred to migration management authorities, the agency reported.

A total of 52 lifejackets, a van, a boat motor and three dinghies were also seized.

Turkey has been a major route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the start of a civil war in Syria.

Until an agreement with the EU came into force in March last year, hundreds drowned while trying to reach Greece from Turkish shores.