Turkey authorities have detained as many as 187 irregular migrants including Bangladeshis, Anadolu Agency reports citing security sources.

However, the report does not mention the number of Bangladeshis who were detained on Friday during a drive against illegal migrants.

149 migrants were held from Turkey’s northwestern Edirne province as they attempted to illegally leave the county, a security source told the state-run news agency requesting anonymity.

These migrants include Bangladeshis, Palestinian, Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Iraqi, Afghan, and Pakistani nationals, were held from the province’s Orhaniye, Bosnakoyu and Yenikadin villages, as well as Meric and Ipsala districts, the source said.

They were referred to the provincial migration office.

Separately in the southern province of Hatay’s Altinozu district, 38 Syrian nationals were held and referred to gendarmerie as they tried to illegally enter Turkey, another security source told Anadolu.

Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, Turkey has been a preferred route for the migrants trying to cross into Europe.