The Samos Port Authority detected 29 migrants and arrested their 29-year-old trafficker on Wednesday, December 18.

Specifically, on Wednesday night, the Samos Coast Guard was informed about a speedboat with immigrants passengers moving at high speed from the Turkish shores towards the northern coast of Samos, near the Kouroutdere coastline.

A Coast Guard patrol boat (P.L.S.) arrived in the area, spotted the speedboat, and attempted to immobilize it using light and sound signals. However, the operator of the boat did not comply, and a chase ensued.

The speedboat was stopped, and the crew of the P.L.S. proceeded to collect the 29 passengers (15 men, 4 women, and 10 minors) and the foreign operator (a citizen of Afghanistan). The passengers were safely transferred to the port of Vathy and handed over to the police officers for transfer to the Closed Controlled Facility of Samos.

The 29-year-old foreign operator was identified by the other passengers as their trafficker and was arrested. An investigation is being conducted by the Samos Port Authority, and the boat was seized.

Detection and arrest of a 23-year-old trafficker in Samos
In a separate incident in Samos, on Wednesday afternoon, the Coast Guard was notified about a speedboat with migrants moving at high speed towards the northern coast of the island, near the Avlakia area.

The boat was coming from Turkey. A Coast Guard vessel spotted the speedboat, which tried to escape towards the Turkish coastline, and attempted to immobilize it using light and sound signals. The operator of the boat did not comply and performed dangerous maneuvers, and a chase followed.

The speedboat was immobilized, and the foreign operator (a Turkish citizen) was arrested. In the wider area, 20 foreigners (7 men, 4 women, and 9 minors) were found. The 23-year-old foreign operator was identified as their trafficker and was arrested.

Detection of 17 foreigners and arrest of a trafficker in Rhodes
In the early hours of today, Thursday, December 19, a Coast Guard patrol vessel, which was on a scheduled patrol, spotted a speedboat without navigation lights disembarking foreigners in the sea area of Fanes, Rhodes.

After the disembarkation was completed, the speedboat increased its speed and headed towards the Turkish shores. A chase followed, during which the speedboat performed dangerous maneuvers. The Coast Guard crew managed to immobilize the boat and arrest the 46-year-old foreign operator, who was identified by the other passengers as their trafficker.

In the wider area, 17 foreigners (all men) were found. The Central Port Authority of Rhodes is conducting the investigation, and the boat was seized.

Migrants detected on Panagia Island, Oinousses
On Thursday morning, the Coast Guard detected 10 foreigners on Panagia Island, Oinousses. A Coast Guard patrol vessel collected the foreigners (3 men, 3 women, and 4 minors) and safely transported them to the port of Chios, where they were handed over to the Chios Closed Reception Center for registration and identification. An investigation is being conducted by the Oinousses Coast Guard Station.

Patient disembarkation from a tanker in Syros
Today at noon, the Syros Port Authority was informed by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (E.K.S.E.D.) of the Coast Guard that a 59-year-old sailor aboard a Greek-flagged tanker, which was sailing between Paros and Syros, needed immediate medical assistance.

A Coast Guard patrol boat rushed to the scene, picked up the patient, and transferred him to the port of Syros. The 59-year-old was transferred by ambulance to the General Hospital of Syros for medical treatment, and the tanker departed for the port of Mykonos. An investigation is being conducted by the Syros Port Authority.