Over the past week, over 200 migrants have arrived on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos, having traveled from Libya.
On January 23, Greek authorities confirmed finding 66 migrants in two separate groups on Crete. The migrants, including people from Bangladesh, Egypt, Sudan, and other countries, had paid smugglers for the journey. Three Egyptian men were arrested for smuggling.
On January 22, a Philippines-flagged tanker rescued 29 migrants 52 nautical miles southeast of Gavdos, and a Sudanese man was arrested for smuggling. Additional groups were found on Chios and Tilos islands. In total, 68 migrants were discovered on Crete and Gavdos on January 20.
In 2024, Greece saw over 60,000 arrivals, a significant increase from 2023. As of mid-January 2025, over 2,300 migrants have arrived, with Syrians, Afghans, and Egyptians making up the majority.
