Illegal Immigrants Flood South of Crete Since Easter – Nearly 260 in 30 Hours
Since Easter Sunday, over 260 undocumented migrants have arrived via boats near Crete, despite strict laws, highlighting enduring challenges at Greece's southern sea borders and pressing local authorities.
Boat after boat arriving in Crete, full of illegal immigrants! Since the morning of Easter Sunday, April 12, 2026, there has been intense activity of human trafficking vessels in the maritime area south of Crete.
The number of illegally entered individuals has now exceeded 190, while the good weather appears to facilitate the movement of dinghies toward this sensitive maritime zone.
Off the coast of Gavdos, another incident occurred where about 35 people were found on a dinghy. Their rescue was coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, with the participation of a Frontex vessel and support from an unmanned aerial vehicle. The rescued individuals are being safely transported to the port of Gavdos.
Three consecutive operations south of Kalo Limenes
Earlier in the same wider area, south of Kalo Limenes, three consecutive “rescue operations,” i.e., transfers of illegal immigrants, took place. In the first, 37 people were located about 44 nautical miles from the coast, with the assistance of Frontex vessels and a drone.
A little further away, 45 nautical miles southeast, forces found another 22 illegal immigrants, whom they rescued using a lifeguard boat and aerial surveillance. In a third incident, another 35 people were recovered by Frontex vessels and are being directed to the port.
New arrivals on Easter Monday
While the operations continue under favorable weather conditions, new incidents were recorded today, April 13, 2026, south of Crete. In Ierapetra, three incidents mobilized the local authorities.
In the morning, a group of 38 undocumented people arrived at Arvi by a plastic boat. Among them was a woman, and most are connected to Sudan. The authorities responded immediately, though the full recording of the incident is still ongoing.
On Gavdos, another 34 illegal immigrants were found on the beach of Trypiti, having disembarked from an inflatable dinghy. Coast Guard personnel located them scattered in the area. Their transfer is expected first to Paleochora and then to Chania, following the prescribed procedures.
New update
Minutes after the publication you are reading was completed, it became known that another boat with 59 illegal immigrants was located and is heading to Kokkinos Pyrgos, near Tympaki in Heraklion. Counting this arrival, the total number of illegal immigrants approaches 260 within 36 hours!!!
Why do they keep coming?
The repeated incidents in Arvi and Gavdos demonstrate the increasing pressure on Crete’s southern maritime borders. The competent authorities remain on alert, while local communities are often called upon to manage the consequences of these arrivals.
And it is completely natural to wonder, along with our readers:
-“Since the Plevris law is in effect, which Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Mr. Thanos Plevris spoke about in Parliament with such satisfaction and pride, why do illegal immigrants continue to come by the hundreds? Aren’t they afraid of being ‘trapped’ in a reception center until they are deported back again?
Or do they know something else that we don’t?”
Will the minister respond to solve this … mystery for us?
