78 migrants found hiding under cement bags in lorry in eastern Turkey

Some 78 Afghan migrants were found hiding underneath bags of cement in the back of a lorry passing through the eastern Van on Sept. 1. Van is a common passage point for migrants trying to travel through Turkey to enter Europe.

Duvar English

Some 78 migrants from Afghanistan were found hiding underneath bags of cement in the back of a lorry passing through the eastern province of Van, local agencies reported on Sep. 1. 

The lorry was stopped in a road control on the Van-Bitlis highway upon suspicious activity, the governor's office said in an official statement. 

The 78 migrants were reportedly taken to a health check-up and then sent to the repatriation center afterwards.

The driver, identified only as H.T., was arrested while his vehicle was sezied by law enforcement. 

Van is often a stop for migrants trying to cross over to Europe from the Middle East, most recently the destination of Afghan migrants fleeing their homeland following the takeover of Taliban in the country.