129 foreigners trying to leave Turkey illegally were caught Sunday during an anti-smuggling operation in southern Muğla province's Fethiye district.

A local shipmaster attempting to illegally smuggle people out of the country was also apprehended during the operation.

Fethiye Coast Guard Boat Command squad reportedly suspected a boat passing at Ölüdeniz early Sunday.

42 Somalians, 26 Syrians, 23 Pakistanis, 19 Afghanis, 13 Iranians, 5 Iraqis and 1 Eritrean, including 22 children were caught after search on the boat, reports said. The boat's shipmaster identified as M.K. was arrested.

The migrants, who were brought to Fethiye from Istanbul by bus, reportedly paid $4,000 per person to be illegally smuggled into Italy.

The Provincial Immigration Administration will be handling the 129 migrantstarget="_blank"'>