Four human smugglers and 26 irregular migrants arrested in Meriç and Rhodope

According to official police statements, the arrests were conducted by officers from the Police Directorates of Dedeağaç, Rhodope, and Kumçiftliği in three separate incidents. Among the four suspects, two are foreign nationals and two are Greek citizens. All are accused of facilitating the illegal transportation of migrants into the interior of Greece.

Three Separate Smuggling Incidents

In the first incident, which took place in the morning on a rural road in Meriç, officers from the Sofulu Border Guard Department of the Dedeğaç Police Directorate, in cooperation with Frontex officials, arrested a foreign national who was driving a private vehicle carrying 12 irregular migrants illegally into the country.

In the second incident, also in the morning hours, police officers from the Sapes Border Guard Department of the Rodopi Police Directorate intercepted another foreign smuggler on the Egnatia Highway between Dedeağaç and Gümülcine. The suspect was transporting seven irregular migrants in a private vehicle.

In the third case, which occurred in the afternoon in a rural area of Meriç, officers from the Didymoteicho and Metaxades Border Guard Departments of the Orestiada Police Directorate arrested two Greek nationals. Investigations revealed that one suspect acted as a scout vehicle to evade police checkpoints, while the second vehicle transported seven irregular migrants into the Greek mainland.

Vehicles and Mobile Phones Seized

Authorities confiscated the vehicles used in the smuggling operations as well as several mobile phones. The suspects are expected to be charged under Greek law for migrant smuggling and related offenses.

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