Migration flows in Crete and Gavdos: 230+ rescued, three human traffickers arrested
More than 230 foreign nationals were located and rescued in maritime operations south of Crete. Three human traffickers were arrested, with parallel operations involving Gavdos and Igoumenitsa.
Series of maritime operations south of Crete — three human traffickers arrested
According to hcg.gr, multiple search and rescue operations for migrants were conducted in maritime areas south of Crete, with a total of over 230 foreign nationals rescued within a matter of hours.
87 foreign nationals — south of Ierapetra, 43 rescued initially
In the early morning hours of the previous day, the Unified Coordination Centre for Search and Rescue (ECSED) of the Coast Guard Headquarters informed the Port Authorities of Kaloi Limenes, Ierapetra and Agia Galini of a vessel in distress, 45 nautical miles south-southwest of Ierapetra. The 70 foreign nationals — 61 men, 3 women and 6 minors — were collected by an additional cargo vessel flying the Portuguese flag and subsequently transferred by the launch "ELENI" N.P.2097 to the port of Kaloi Limenes, from where they were escorted by the Coast Guard to the port of Heraklion.
During preliminary investigation by the Central Port Authority of Heraklion, two foreign nationals from Egypt, aged 28 and 22, were identified by fellow passengers as their traffickers. They were arrested for illegal entry into the country, facilitating illegal migration and endangering others. According to the migrants, the vessel departed on the night of 11 September 2026 from the Tobruk area of Libya. Each person paid between 170,000 Egyptian pounds and 2,000 United States dollars for their transfer to Greece.
In a separate operation earlier, within the same maritime area — 49 nautical miles southeast of Kaloi Limenes — 43 of the 87 foreign nationals were initially located. An 18-year-old national of South Sudan was arrested as a trafficker, identified by fellow passengers. This vessel also departed from Tobruk on 11 September 2026, with each migrant paying 15,000 Libyan dinars.
71 foreign nationals on Trypiti beach in Gavdos
In the early morning hours today, personnel from the Gavdos Port Authority located 71 foreign nationals, exclusively men, on Trypiti beach. They were taken temporarily to an accommodation facility of the Gavdos Municipality, whilst they are to be transferred to an accommodation centre in Agia Roumeli, Chania. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Central Port Authority of Chania.
Two further operations south of Ierapetra
In the afternoon hours of the previous day, a Coast Guard patrol vessel located and collected 46 foreign male nationals, 56 nautical miles southeast of Kaloi Limenes. They were transferred to the port of Ierapetra, where a preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Port Authority of Ierapetra.
During the same period, an additional vehicle-carrier vessel flying the Italian flag collected 35 foreign male nationals from a small boat in distress, 30 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, and transferred them also to the port of Ierapetra.
Arrest of trafficker in truck in Igoumenitsa
In the evening hours of the previous day, personnel from the Security Office of the Port Authority of Igoumenitsa arrested four foreign nationals from Egypt — aged 20, 15, 15 and 14 — and a 44-year-old national of Turkey. During a check at the entrance gate of the external port of Igoumenitsa, it was established that the 44-year-old truck driver was transporting the four young foreign nationals in the cargo space, without valid travel documents, with the intention of illegally transporting them abroad. The truck was seized by the Central Port Authority of Igoumenitsa, which is conducting a preliminary investigation.
95-year-old passenger died aboard the Blue Star Naxos
In the evening hours yesterday, during a scheduled service from Katapola to Piraeus, a 95-year-old Greek passenger experienced difficulty breathing and lost consciousness aboard the passenger/car ferry "Blue Star Naxos". First aid was administered and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted with the assistance of a private doctor who was aboard the vessel. At Naxos port, the woman was received by a National Emergency Care Service (EKAS) ambulance and transported to the General Hospital-Health Centre of Naxos, where her death was ascertained. The Port Authority of Naxos is conducting a preliminary investigation and has ordered an autopsy with the Forensic Medicine Service of Piraeus.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)