Arrests of smugglers and rescue of hundreds of migrants on Gavdos, Agia Galini and Crete
Vessels from FRONTEX and the Hellenic Coast Guard rescued a total of more than 140 foreign nationals in multiple operations. Two minors who were smugglers were arrested.
Migrant rescues and suspension of departure in Rhodes: new Hellenic Coast Guard operations
According to hcg.gr, in separate rescue operations conducted over a period of several hours, the Hellenic Coast Guard and FRONTEX vessels collected a total of more than 140 foreign nationals in maritime areas around Gavdos, Agia Galini and southern Crete. At the same time, the departure of a passenger vessel in Rhodes was suspended due to crew working-hour regulation violations.
Suspension of departure of "Dodecanese Express" in Rhodes
In the afternoon hours of the previous day, the passenger-vehicle-fast catamaran "DODECANESE EXPRESS" berthed at Rhodes harbour after an approved route to Symi, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi and Patmos. Following a test voyage, officials of the Port Authority established that the vessel had completed a voyage of a total duration of ten hours and fifty-one minutes, without accounting for crew working time before departure and after arrival, in violation of working-hour and rest provisions. The Central Port Authority of Rhodes suspended the departure, which was permitted again in the morning hours of the following day after the crew had received at least 14 hours of rest. The procedure for imposing administrative sanctions was initiated by the Hellenic Coast Guard Station in Telos.
25 migrants rescued south-west of Agia Galini – arrest of 17-year-old smuggler
In the early morning hours, a FRONTEX vessel detected a boat with 25 foreign men in distress, 35 nautical miles south-west of Agia Galini. The rescued persons were transferred safely to the port of Agia Galini and subsequently to a temporary accommodation facility provided by the municipality, with scheduled transfer to an accommodation facility in Rethymno. The Port Authority of Rethymno, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, arrested a 17-year-old foreign national, a Sudanese citizen, identified by the others as the smuggler. He faces charges of unlawful entry into the country, facilitation and endangerment. According to the statements of the migrants, the group departed from Tobruk in Libya on 9 October 2026, each paying between 1,500 and 3,000 United States dollars for the transport.
43 foreign nationals on Gavdos – 16-year-old South Sudanese citizen arrested as smuggler
With regard to the rescue operation of 43 foreign nationals in the maritime area "ASPES" of Gavdos, which took place in the morning hours of the previous day, a 16-year-old foreign national, a South Sudanese citizen, was arrested as the smuggler of the group. He was identified by the other passengers as the person who transported them from Tobruk in Libya. He faces charges of unlawful entry, facilitation, promoting irregular migration and endangerment. The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Central Port Authority of Chania.
47 migrants off Trafoulia – transfer to Heraklion
In the morning hours, the Port Authority of Kaloi Limenes was informed of a boat with foreign nationals in distress, 3 nautical miles south of Trafoulia beach. With the assistance of the vessel "ANTONIS-GIORGOS", the boat approached the fishing refuge at Loutra, where 47 foreign nationals – 46 men and one woman – were disembarked safely. They were subsequently transported by bus, under the escort of officers from the Special Missions Unit of the Central Port Authority of Heraklion, to the port of Heraklion. The case is being handled by the Central Port Authority of Heraklion.
46 foreign nationals south-west of Gavdos – transfer to Chania
A FRONTEX vessel responded to a report from the Port Authority of Paleochora regarding a boat 12 nautical miles south-west of Gavdos and collected 46 foreign nationals – 43 men, 2 women and one minor. The rescued persons were transferred to Karave port on Gavdos and subsequently, by Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel, to the port of Chora Sfakion, from where they were taken to a temporary detention facility in Agia Chania. The preliminary investigation is being undertaken by the Central Port Authority of Chania.
Patient transfers by the Hellenic Coast Guard
Under the supervision of the Hellenic Coast Guard Operations Centre, patient transfers were carried out for those requiring immediate hospital care: a 77-year-old and a 66-year-old were transferred from Samothrace to Alexandroupolis, a 78-year-old from Tinos to Syros and a 57-year-old along with a 90-year-old from Ios to Thira.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)