A speedboat carrying 35 undocumented migrants was intercepted by the Hellenic Coast Guard early Thursday morning northeast of the island of Samos.
The group included 13 men, 7 women, and 15 minors, alongside a 26-year-old Afghan man identified as the boat’s operator and alleged smuggler.
The rescued individuals and the smuggler were taken to the port of Malagari, where they were handed over to the police. The migrants will be transferred to the closed and controlled reception facility on Samos.
According to authorities, passengers confirmed that the Afghan man was responsible for the trafficking operation, leading to his arrest.
An investigation into the incident has been launched by the Samos Port Authority, as Greece continues its efforts to combat illegal migration and human trafficking in the Aegean Sea.