Over 300 Syrian immigrants caught on a vessel in Turkish waters

Turkish officials launched an operation on human smugglers on Thursday, March 12, in the Dardanelles Strait in the northwestern Canakkale province on a vessel carrying 337 illegal Syrian immigrants.

The Canakkale Governor, Ahmet Cinar, said that about 337 Syrian immigrants were on board and there was no resistance, casualties or injuries on the ship.

During the operation, authorities faced some challenges in bringing the ship to a halt. The governor said that despite all the warnings from Turkish officials, the ship wouldn't stop.

According to the police, five people, including two crew members and three foreign smugglers were taken into custody after the Turkish coast guards' operation.

There were 85 children and 67 women among the immigrants, police officials said.

The immigrants were taken to the port of Gallipoli, where they underwent a medical examination. They will also be questioned by Turkish police.

For the duration of the operation, the Canakkale Strait suspended all transit, which included halting Gallipoli-Lapseki ferry shuttles.

The UN Refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration stated that nearly 1,900 migrants intending to enter Europe have died during their passage on the Mediterranean Sea last year.