Egyptian Traffickers Caught Smuggling 501 Migrants South of Crete

Greek authorities identified four Egyptian nationals, aged 20, 20, 21, and 36, as traffickers responsible for smuggling hundreds of migrants south of Crete.

On June 21, a distress call alerted officials to a fishing vessel in trouble 49 nautical miles south of the island. A coordinated rescue effort involving the coast guard, navy, and nearby ships was swiftly launched.The vessel, which set sail from Tobruk, Libya, on June 20, was located by a coast guard patrol.

With assistance from the coast guard, the cargo ship Muazzez K rescued 501 migrants. The migrants were safely transported to Agia Galini and temporarily accommodated in Rethymno.

Authorities are now probing the trafficking network, investigating potential ties to organized smuggling operations.