Crete: 43 migrants rescued and two smugglers arrested

A cargo ship rescued 43 migrants from a boat located 17 nautical miles southeast of Kaloi Limenes, Crete. The rescue operation was coordinated by the Hellenic Coast Guard's Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

Following the rescue, authorities arrested a 33-year-old Egyptian national identified by the passengers as a smuggler. Investigations revealed the group had traveled from Tobruk, Libya, starting on the night of October 24, 2026. According to passenger testimonies, fees paid for the transport ranged from 200,000 to 250,000 Egyptian pounds and 5,500 US dollars.

In a separate incident near Ierapetra, a 14-year-old South Sudanese national was also arrested for allegedly transporting 50 migrants. The arrests are part of ongoing investigations into illegal entry and human smuggling operations from Libya to Greece.