Greek Coastguard Rescues 117 Asylum-Seekers, Arrests Smugglers

On Sunday, the Greek coastguard announced that they had successfully rescued 117 asylum-seekers who were attempting to make the journey from Libya to Italy. The coastguard arrested three individuals who were suspected of being involved in smugglers’ activities.

The rescued group consisted of 84 men, two women, and 31 minors, who were found on board a 10-meter boat that had docked in a bay in southern Crete typically used by local fishermen.

According to a statement from the authorities, the asylum-seekers revealed that they had departed from Tobruk, Libya on Thursday with the goal of reaching Italy.

Greece, along with Italy, has been at the forefront of dealing with the influx of migrants attempting to enter the European Union by crossing the Mediterranean from Turkey or North Africa.

Last year, Greece received around 45,000 asylum-seekers, with the majority arriving at the islands close to the Turkish coast. This number represents the largest influx in four years, as reported by the United Nations.