Police apprehended 139 illegal immigrants travelling by passenger bus in central Turkey's Sivas province on Thursday.

Security teams searched the Istanbul-bound bus at a checkpoint, finding Pakistani and Afghani nationals who had entered the country illegally.

The immigrants were given food and drinks after being taken to the district police department, according to Anadolu Agency.

Sivas General Directorate of Migration Management will oversee immigration procedure for the 139 individuals.

Police took the driver of the passenger bus into custody.

Turkey is a popular route for many illegal immigrants from Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Hundreds of migrants smuggled into the country are captured every year near the borders in western Turkey, or its Aegean provinces.