Lesvos: Coast Guard Officer Injured in High-Speed Pursuit of Migrant-Smuggling Speedboat

In a recent incident near Agrilia, Lesvos, a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boat engaged in a high-speed chase with a speedboat suspected of transporting illegal migrants. The speedboat, spotted disembarking passengers, attempted to flee towards the Turkish coast, ignoring the Coast Guard's signals to stop. During the ensuing pursuit, the speedboat executed dangerous maneuvers and collided with the Coast Guard vessel, injuring one crew member.

The Coast Guard managed to immobilize the speedboat, arresting its two operators, aged 31 and 25. A secondary coast guard vessel arrived to transport the injured crew member to Mytilene, where he received medical attention at the General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostaneio.”

Meanwhile, land searches conducted by the Hellenic police in the surrounding area resulted in the arrest of 30 foreign nationals, who were taken to the Kara Tepe “Mavrovouni” facility. The Central Port Authority of Mytilene is leading the investigation, having seized the speedboat and a knife with a 10 cm blade found on the 25-year-old operator, who was also taken into custody.