In the face of insurmountable odds, Greek authorities and Frontex saved over 600 migrants navigating perilous Mediterranean waters south of Greece.
At a Glance
- Greek authorities rescued 630 migrants from two overcrowded fishing boats off the island of Crete.
- One boat with 352 people was found south of Gavdos; a second with 278 people was located south of Crete.
- The migrants, including people from Egypt, Syria, and Pakistan, departed from Tobruk, Libya, paying smugglers €4,000 each.
- Two Sudanese teenagers were arrested on suspicion of being part of the human trafficking ring.
A Massive Mediterranean Rescue
In a large-scale, two-day operation, the Greek coast guard, assisted by the EU border agency Frontex, rescued 630 migrants from two dangerously overcrowded fishing boats in the Mediterranean Sea. The rescues took place in international waters south of the Greek island of Crete.
According to the Associated Press, the first boat, carrying 278 people, was located on Friday about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the Cretan coastline. A second vessel, with 352 people crammed aboard, was found early Saturday, 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of the small island of Gavdos. All 630 migrants, including people from Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, were safely transported to the port of Kali Limenes on Crete for medical checks and registration.
The Perilous Journey from Libya
Passengers told authorities that their treacherous journey began in the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya. They reported paying smugglers an exorbitant fee of €4,000 (about $4,300) per person to be packed onto the dilapidated fishing vessels for the dangerous sea crossing.
This route from Libya to Greece’s southern islands is one of the most perilous in the Mediterranean. As Greece and Frontex have increased patrols in the Aegean Sea, disrupting the shorter route from Turkey, human trafficking networks have shifted to this longer, more dangerous path, often using larger, unseaworthy boats. Last year, a fishing trawler that set off from Tobruk capsized and sank off the coast of mainland Greece, resulting in one of history’s deadliest shipwrecks, with hundreds of migrants feared dead.
Suspected Teenage Traffickers Arrested
Following the rescue, Greek authorities arrested two Sudanese teenagers, aged 18 and 19, on suspicion of being part of the trafficking crew. As reported by the Greek newspaper Ekathimerini, the two suspects were identified by other passengers on board the vessels. They face serious charges, including forming a criminal organization, migrant trafficking, and causing endangerment.
The arrests highlight the ruthless nature of the smuggling networks, which often recruit vulnerable individuals to help operate the boats. The incident underscores the immense challenge facing European authorities as they attempt to dismantle these criminal enterprises while managing a relentless humanitarian crisis at sea.
