On May 23 and 24, a significant influx of migrants was observed along Crete’s southern coast, with the Hellenic Coast Guard conducting coordinated operations that resulted in the identification of a total of 508 migrants and the arrest of four smugglers.
On Saturday, May 24, the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center received notifications regarding two boats in distress south of Kaloi Limenes.
A patrol vessel from the Coast Guard was promptly dispatched, locating two wooden boats southwest of Gavdos, and successfully rescuing 111 individuals (including 1 woman and 1 minor).
Hours later, another inflatable boat carrying 51 migrants (including 13 minors) was intercepted 22 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes.
Two individuals from Sudan, aged 18 and 27, were apprehended as smugglers, while the rest were taken to the Malakasa Reception and Identification Center.
A similar incident occurred at Dyskos beach in the municipality of Gortyna, where 53 migrants (including 5 minors) landed. A 24-year-old Sudanese national was arrested as the smuggler, and the boat used for transport was confiscated.
Additionally, on Friday, May 23, 114 migrants were rescued from two boats located south of Gavdos. Two Sudanese nationals, aged 43 and 19, were arrested as smugglers.
On the same day, 107 migrants were found on Trypiti beach in Gavdos, with a 19-year-old Sudanese identified as the smuggler.
Another 72 migrants were discovered aboard a wooden boat near Karave Port in Gavdos and were safely transported to Sfakia. No smugglers were arrested in that operation.
Late Sunday afternoon, the Coast Guard’s Unified Search and Rescue Center reported that a Frontex vessel rescued 42 migrants in the sea area 30 nautical miles southeast of Gavdos, with the migrants later transferred to the port of Agia Galini.
Ongoing Investigations
Preliminary investigations into these incidents are being handled by the Central Port Authorities of Chania and Heraklion. Authorities are also looking into potential connections between the suspects and larger migrant smuggling networks.
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