At least nine irregular migrants from Afghanistan were held in Turkey’s northwestern Kocaeli province on Tuesday, a security source said. 

The Afghan nationals were caught in a bus during a security checkpoint in Gebze district, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The police also arrested the bus driver. 

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution. 

It hosts nearly 4 million refugees, including over 3.6 million Syrians, more than any other country in the world. /aa