Two female bodies were discovered on the coast of Chios, one of the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea. Irregular arrivals are reported to have dropped since the suspension of asylum claims in July. However, arrivals of mostly male migrants continue on the small island of Gavdos. Meanwhile, the Greek police say they have dismantled another suspected smuggling network.
The Greek coast guard recovered the bodies of two women on the rocky coast of the Greek Island of Chios on Friday (October 17), news agency Reuters reported.
A makeshift boat with an estimated 29 migrants had run aground and collided with the rocky coastline of Chios, a Greek island located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) off the western coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea.
An account of the rescue operation, which took place late on Thursday night, indicates that 12 migrants were taken by ambulance to Chios General Hospital where two women were pronounced dead. The other 17 passengers were transferred to the Chios Reception and Identification Center.
In a statement released by the Hellenic Coast Guard, a 24-year-old male, reported to be an Afghan national, was arrested after being identified by the passengers as their trafficker.
Entry point into Europe
Because of its geographic location, Greece represents one of the EU's external borders. This makes Greece an ideal entry point for people who want to irregularly cross into Europe via sea. People arrive from both Turkey and North African countries in Greece.
More than 60,000 migrants arrived in Greece in 2024, compared to just over 48,000 arrivals in 2023. According to the most recent data from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, more than 35,000 migrants have arrived in Greece since the beginning of this year, more than 13,000 of them on the islands of Crete and Gavdos. The data was last updated on October 12.
In July, the authorities suspended the processing of asylum applications for people arriving by sea from North Africa. The measure drew sharp criticism from human rights groups but the government defended the move as necessary to deter dangerous crossings and manage the islands that reported being overwhelmed with the numbers of irregular arrivals.
Before the suspension was announced, an estimated 2,642 people had arrived in Greece--peaking at 700 per day. In August, fewer than 400 people were reported to have irregularly crossed into Greece.
Officials say that without the new rules, between 6,000 and 7,000 people would have entered by now, Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reported.
Read AlsoMigrant arrivals in Greece drop, but asylum suspension draws sharp criticism
Arrest and dismantling of criminal gang
Meanwhile, Greek police reported on Thursday (October 16) that five members of a suspected criminal organization were arrested. Two other suspects remain at large. Authorities said that the arrest dismantled the criminal organization which is accused of operating two professionally equipped forgery shops in the Greek capital of Athens since 2024. Fabricated identity documents are sold and used to facilitate the smuggling of people into central and northern Europe.
Fake IDs, passports, residence permits and technical equipment used to make the documents as well as vehicles, cash, and data storage devices were also confiscated during the police raid.
The suspects are reported to have charged 8,000 euros per person to produce the counterfeit documents as well as irregularly transporting the people across borders using them.
Authorities estimate the suspects earned more than 120,000 euros from the sale of forged documents alone.
Read AlsoEuropol dismantles networks suspected of smuggling migrants
Arrivals on Gavdos
The Hellenic Coast Guard reported the rescue of 76 people south of Gavdos on Saturday afternoon (October 18). A 30-year-old reported to be an Egyptian national was arrested as the suspected trafficker.
In addition, the Gavdos Port authorities reported the rescue of 46 people -- all men -- in the Korfou area today (October 20). The men were transferred to a temporary accommodation facility of the Gavdos municipality.
Since the beginning of 2024, the tiny Greek island of Gavdos has seen at least 1,180 migrants arrive. The tiny island, has one school, one bakery, and two mini-markets with an estimated population of 70 people. The island has no permanent migrant reception facilities. Most of the migrants arriving this weekend told the authorities they came originally from Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
In response, the Greek government pledged additional financial support for Gavdos and neighboring island, Crete last year. On arrival, most migrants are taken directly from the port to Crete, and some are then transported onwards to reception facilities on the Greek mainland.
Read AlsoGreece: Government pledges financial support for islands of Gavdos and Crete