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Greek Coast Guard Dismantles Illegal Migrant Trafficking Network

migrant trafficking
The speedboat apprehended near the coast of the Greek island of Kos. Credit: Greek Coast Guard.

A 43-year-old foreigner was arrested on Monday on the island of Kos on suspicion of running a migrant trafficking network. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the Greek Coast Guard on Tuesday, the man is currently in police custody, along with three others.

Three arrested outside Kos airport suspected of migrant trafficking

The 43-year-old man was apprehended outside Kos airport on suspicion of trafficking a 23-year-old and a 27-year-old migrant. The trafficking network allegedly operated by having illegal migrants stay on Kos for a short period before facilitating their travel using falsified documents.

The 43-year-old was arrested on charges of forgery and espionage following a search of his home on Kos where audiovisual material was discovered. This material will be sent to the central Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.

Kos migrant
The items seized in connection with the case by Greek police. Credit: Greek Coast Guard.

The 23-year-old and 27-year-old foreigners were arrested for presenting allegedly falsified travel documents during border control procedures.

Speedboat chase near Kos in connection with trafficking

On Monday afternoon, a Kalymnos Port Authority patrol boat became engaged in a boat chase in the “Foka” area of the sea near Kos. When the boat was finally stopped, officers discovered there were eight foreigners on board.

It is alleged that none of them had valid travel documents.

The passengers of the immobilized boat were transported to the port of Kos, where they disembarked. One of the eight passengers, a 23-year-old who was driving the boat, was promptly identified as the alleged trafficker by the remaining seven passengers.

The 23-year-old who pilot was also identified by the 23-year-old and 27-year-old arrested at the airport as having allegedly brought them to Kos seven days prior. Subsequently, he was arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the country and human trafficking.

The migrant trafficking ring which allegedly operates by bringing individuals from Turkey to Kos and then on to mainland Greece has been under police investigation since November of 2020.

A video of the Kalymnos Port Authority boat apprehending the speedboat is shown below:

 

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