At least 51 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Thursday.

In the northwestern province of Canakkale's Ayvacik district, a total of 41 Afghan nationals, including women and children, were rounded up by coast guards, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants were planning to cross into the Greek island of Lesbos.

Separately, 10 irregular migrants of Palestinian and Syrian nationals were also held in a speedboat off the Turgutreis coast in the Bodrum district of western Mugla province.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration offices.

Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.