Illegal migrants held entering Turkey's south

Around 100 foreign nationals who illegally entered Turkey were captured Thursday by Turkish security forces in southern town of Mersin. Mersin gendarmerie received a tip-off that a number of unauthorized migrants were trying to reach European countries, particularly Sweden, through coastal towns of Turkey. In the ensuing operation, security forces stormed a summer villa where they captured 69 foreign nationals. Another group of 30 were also caught in a nearby forest. Sixty of the detainees were Burmese, 27 were Syrian, 11 were Afghan, and one was Iraqi, sources said. Security forces also detained a suspect who allegedly organized unlawful entries across international borders. The illegal migrants claimed that they each paid $5,000 to intermediaries who were expected to facilitate their entry into European countries. Turkey, a transit point for illegal migrants trying to reach Europe, signed an agreement in December with the European Union (EU) which allows the EU countries to send back unauthorized immigrants entering into Europe via Turkey.