In Greece, a recent incident involved a Greek coast guard patrol boat engaging in a gunfire exchange with a man on a speedboat attempting to smuggle migrants from Turkey to a Greek island. The event took place off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Chios, with no reported injuries. The coast guard disclosed that the smuggling vessel reversed course towards the Turkish coast after the altercation.
According to a statement from the coast guard, the individual operating the speedboat fired at the patrol boat with a handgun, prompting the coast guard crew to respond by firing shots within a secured area. Limited information was provided regarding the specifics of the shooting incident.
Greece serves as a frequent entry point for individuals from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia who are in search of improved opportunities within the prosperous European Union. Many individuals opt to cross the waters from Turkey in small boats, which are either steered by migrants and abandoned upon arrival or transported by smugglers who swiftly return to Turkey with the vessels.