The Greek coast guard reported on Sunday (January 14) that it had picked up 84 men, two women and 31 minors on board a ten-meter long boat moored off the southern tip of the Greek island of Crete.

Three people were also taken into custody by the Greek authorities, reported the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP). The three, who were aged 60, 29 and 44 years, were detained for facilitating illegal entry into the country, as well as being part of a "gang organization."

Two of those arrested were found to be in possession of cannabis. The 44-year-old was also accused of entering a Schengen country illegally, according to the coast guard.

The migrants told the coast guard they left the Libyan city of Tobruk on Thursday (January 11) and had originally been hoping to reach Italy.

Journey cost between €1,300 and €3,600

According to a statement released by the Greek coast guard on Sunday, the boat carrying the migrants was made of metal. The migrants told the Greek authorities they had paid between $1,500 and $4,000 (about €1,369 - €3,652) to make the journey.

All were reported to be in good health on arrival in the port of Heraklion. The boat has been impounded in the port of Kala Limenoni, the coast guard said.

In June 2023, a boat intending to make a similar journey from Libya to Italy also went off course and sank off the Greek mainland. At least 82 people were confirmed drowned in that disaster and hundreds more reported missing.

Also read: Greek coast guard rescues migrants, accused of further pushbacks

Last week, at least three people died off the Greek island of Lesbos after their inflatable dinghy ran aground on rocks on the island, pushed reportedly by high winds in the area, reported the news agency Associated Press (AP).

According to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR's data, 569 migrants have arrived in Greece since the beginning of the year. The figures were last updated on January 14. Last year, 48,744 migrants entered Greece via its sea and land borders.

With AFP, AP