ATHENS, Greece — On Thursday, Greek officials announced the discovery of 66 migrants on the southern Greek island of Crete. These individuals had made the perilous journey from the Libyan coastline in North Africa, a route that has become increasingly popular among smuggling organizations.
The coast guard revealed that the group consisted of 31 Bangladeshis, 22 Egyptians, and 13 Sudanese, among whom were five minors and three women. They were located on the island in two different areas early Wednesday morning, having arrived on the same wooden vessel the night before and subsequently divided into two separate groups.
Officials reported the arrest of three Egyptian men, aged 23, 26, and 31, who were identified as the boat’s operators by other travelers. The migrants shared with coast guard personnel that their journey commenced from Libya’s shores early Tuesday, with each person paying approximately $2,000 for their passage to Greece.
Greece has long served as a key entry point into the European Union for individuals fleeing conflicts and destitution in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Notably, there has been a significant rise in arrivals through neighboring Turkey and the Libyan coast over the past year. In 2024, Greece saw upward of 60,000 arrivals, the majority of whom entered by sea, a notable increase from more than 48,000 in 2023.
As authorities bolster their patrols along the eastern maritime border with Turkey to deter migrant vessels from reaching nearby islands, traffickers appear to be resorting to the more dangerous and lengthy Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to southern Greece.
The reported 66 migrants represent just a portion of those who have arrived on Crete, with many more reported by the coast guard having landed between Monday and Wednesday on the island and the small island of Gavdos, which is the southernmost point of Greece.
In total, 29 individuals—including 10 from Sudan, 10 from Pakistan, five from Bangladesh, and four from Egypt—were rescued from a Philippines-flagged tanker that was operating dozens of miles south of Gavdos on Wednesday. Meanwhile, another group of 45 migrants, comprising nationals from Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sudan, was saved by a cargo ship registered in the Marshall Islands on Tuesday. Two Egyptians from this group were also arrested on suspicion of involvement in human trafficking activities.
