Samos: Greek Intelligence Monitored Smuggling Ring for a Year
Greek intelligence and coast guard uncovered a year-long migrant smuggling ring in Samos, led by a Turkish ringleader exploiting local businesses as fronts to traffic refugees from Turkey to Europe.
For an entire year, the National Intelligence Service (EYP) closely monitored a trafficking ring that was transporting illegal immigrants to Samos, using catering businesses and a tourist accommodation as a front.
New details recently came to light showing that the case originated from a collaboration between the National Intelligence Service and the Port Authority of Samos.
The ringleader was a 45-year-old Turkish national who lived permanently on the island. He had purchased several catering establishments and a tourist accommodation, which, however, were operating well below capacity. According to sources, he used them exclusively to cover up his illegal activities.
How the group operated
The 45-year-old had two main accomplices: a 24-year-old from Syria and a 43-year-old from Iraq.
Together, they received immigrants who arrived by speedboats from the Turkish coast and transported them by car to hideouts, even inside the tourist accommodation that the ringleader had purchased.
Their earnings were disproportionate to the apparent business activity of their enterprises on Samos.
The operation that ended their activities
The Coast Guard, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, located a vessel belonging to the ring carrying two Turkish traffickers and 34 immigrants.
A pursuit followed. Seven immigrants fell into the sea and were immediately rescued by Coast Guard boats.
The remainder managed to reach the shore, climbed into the mountains, where they were met by group members in vehicles.
They were transported to a temporary shelter, where however a Coast Guard unit located them before they could continue their journey using forged Spanish passports to another European country.
The financial aspect and arrests
Each immigrant paid between 4,000 and 5,000 euros for transport from the Turkish coast to Greece.
In the end, the 45-year-old Turkish ringleader, four of his accomplices, and the 34 illegal immigrants were arrested for illegal entry into the country.
The case reveals how a trafficking ring was able to operate for a long time in Samos, using legitimate businesses to conceal human trafficking.
