On Tuesday, Greek authorities reported the detention of 107 migrants during two separate operations near the island of Crete.
According to AP, a cargo vessel rescued 42 male migrants who were aboard an abandoned boat that had crashed into rocks. The information was provided by the coast guard and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
The survivors told authorities they had departed from the Libyan port of Tobruk. Two men were arrested on charges of human trafficking. In another case, 65 migrants were found on Gavdos Island, located south of Crete. One of them required medical assistance and was hospitalized.
Greek Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs Stefanos Gikas told parliament that illegal migration has surged since late 2023. Officials attribute this to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
According to Gikas, 47,267 people illegally entered Greece in 2024, and 625 individuals were arrested for trafficking.
