ATHENS, Greece — On Tuesday, Greek authorities reported the apprehension of 107 migrants in two distinct operations conducted near the island of Crete, amid an uptick in individuals attempting to navigate the eastern Mediterranean.

The coast guard intervened with a cargo ship flying the Liberian flag, named CL Heidi, which had set sail from the Libyan port of Tobruk carrying 42 male migrants. Two of the individuals detained in connection with this operation have been charged with smuggling offenses.

In a separate occurrence, 65 migrants were discovered on the island of Gavdos, located to the south of Crete. One of the migrants required medical attention and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

During a parliamentary session, the deputy minister of maritime affairs, Stefanos Gikas, shed light on the ongoing challenge posed by a rise in illegal migration, which has been especially pronounced since late 2023. Officials from the government have linked this phenomenon to various conflicts arising in the Middle East.

Gikas reported that a total of 47,267 individuals entered Greece illegally in 2024, and noted that there were 625 arrests made related to smuggling activities.