76 Migrants Detained on Crete

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – In a significant development, authorities on the southern Greek island of Crete detained 76 migrants early Tuesday after their arrival on three boats. The group, which included six children, hails from Syria, Egypt, Sudan, and Bangladesh, and landed on the small island of Gavdos, located near Crete’s southern coast. Local officials reported that the migrants are typically held for identification and processing, allowing them to apply for asylum while awaiting their cases to be reviewed. The shift in smuggling tactics has seen traffickers increasingly targeting Greek islands like Crete and those in the central Aegean Sea, as they seek to evade intensified coast guard patrols. Traditionally, smugglers have focused on islands closer to Turkey’s coastline. In response to the rising number of arrivals, the Greek government is contemplating the establishment of state-funded processing centers on Crete to better support local authorities and manage the influx. Currently, migrants are temporarily housed in various facilities, including sports centers, abandoned buildings, and schools during the summer months. According to the United Nations refugee agency, over 28,000 migrants have arrived illegally in Greece this year, a figure that remains slightly lower than those recorded in Italy and Spain. The rate of illegal arrivals has seen a slight decrease compared to the post-pandemic surge earlier in 2023. Greece has faced criticism from human rights organizations regarding its treatment of migrants. In June, the government refuted a BBC report alleging that its coast guard engaged in brutal practices leading to numerous fatalities among migrants attempting to reach its shores.