17 migrants caught en route to Greek island

The Turkish Coast Guard caught 17 foreigners in the northwestern Canakkale province, blocking their illegal journey to the Greek island of Lesbos, police sources said early Wednesday.

Turkish Coast Guard boat TCSG-28 stopped the group in a small boat at sea and transported the immigrants in it to Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media.

The group included some children and came from Afghanistan, Mali, Iran, and Congo.

After identity checks, the group was offered food and drink and transported to a Migrants Return Center in the Ayvacik district.