Greece arrests 17 suspected migrant smugglers near Turkish border in one week
Greek authorities have arrested 17 suspected migrant smugglers over the past week near the country's northeastern land border with Türkiye, after they were allegedly found transporting nearly 100 migrants in vehicles toward western Greece, police data showed Monday.
The arrests were carried out in the Thrace region near the Meriç (Evros) River, which forms a large part of the border between Greece and Türkiye.
In one case, police said a suspected smuggler was driving a vehicle carrying 11 migrants in cramped conditions. In another incident, a truck transporting 13 migrants collided with a car, leaving six migrants in need of hospital treatment.
Thessaloniki-area arrest after migrants found in car trunk
Separately, police arrested a suspected member of a migrant-smuggling network near Thessaloniki after discovering two migrants hidden in the luggage compartment of a car.
The suspect, a 22-year-old foreign national, was also found to be driving without a licence, according to a police statement.
The incident occurred near the village of Gerakarou, around 35 kilometres east of Thessaloniki, after the suspect allegedly attempted to pass through a police roadblock.
Police said the vehicle was carrying three migrants in total, who had crossed the land border from Türkiye and were being transported west toward Thessaloniki.
Greece remains key entry point for irregular migration
Greece has again become the main gateway into the European Union for irregular migration, with thousands of people from the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Africa arriving in the country in recent years.
According to United Nations data, nearly 18,000 people have entered Greece illegally so far this year. Italy follows with nearly 16,000 arrivals, while Spain has recorded around 14,500.
During the 2015 migration crisis, up to one million people entered the EU, with the majority arriving through Greece.
Meric (Evros) border and Mediterranean routes remain active
While Greece has strengthened security along the Meriç (Evros) border through the construction of a fence, nearly 4,300 people have crossed the land route from Türkiye so far this year.
A larger number of migrants have arrived by sea, particularly from Libya, travelling in small boats across the Mediterranean to the southern Greek island of Crete. More than 9,000 people have reached Greece through this route since the beginning of the year.
Many migrants do not intend to remain in Greece, instead relying on smuggling networks to continue their journey toward northern and western European countries.
Last year, nearly 49,000 people arrived in Greece.
Source:Kathimerini
