Greece Detains 5 Border Police Officers for Smuggling Migrants
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Loading... - Anita Etomi
- 30 May 2023
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In a significant development, Greek authorities apprehended five border police officers on Tuesday, suspecting their involvement in a human smuggling network responsible for illicitly bringing migrants into the country from Turkey.
The five individuals were presented before a prosecutor in the city of Orestiada, situated in the northeastern region of Greece, a day after the internal affairs division of the police department announced their arrest on charges of bribery and breaching their duty.
According to a statement by the police, these officers are accused of aiding the smuggling of an undisclosed number of migrants on at least 12 occasions in the Didymoteicho area of northeastern Greece.
The investigation thus far has revealed that these officers had established contact with networks operating in a neighboring country since October, and allegedly took actions or neglected their duties to facilitate the entry of non-EU nationals into Greece.
The police have collected substantial evidence related to the case, including nearly 60 mobile phones and various foreign currencies from multiple countries. Over the past few years, a large number of migrants, predominantly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, have attempted to cross into Greece from Turkey, with the aspiration of reaching Western Europe.
Due to heightened patrols in the Aegean Sea, making it increasingly challenging for migrants to reach Greek islands, many have resorted to crossing the Evros River, which serves as Greece's natural border with Turkey, and relying on traffickers to transport them further by road.
Responding to this situation, the authorities in Athens have made the decision to extend the existing 5-meter high steel fence that runs alongside the river by an additional 35 kilometers (22 miles). Currently spanning a length of 38 kilometers, the fence's extension is planned to be completed within a year, ultimately reaching a total length of 100 kilometers by 2026.
However, Greece has faced accusations of inhumane treatment towards illegal migrants. An investigation conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) revealed that, with the assistance of the European Union's border agency, Frontex, Athens has deliberately and systematically pushed back asylum-seekers towards Turkey.
