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Greek Police dismantle migrant smuggling ring in Thessaloniki and Thesprotia
Greek authorities, in collaboration with Europol, have dismantled a large-scale migrant smuggling organization operating in the regions of Thessaloniki and Thesprotia. The operation, conducted under the EU's EMPACT 2.2 EAST MED program, resulted in the arrest of ten individuals: seven Greek nationals and three foreign nationals (two Syrian men and one Albanian woman).
Investigations revealed that the criminal group had been active since at least June 2025, involving 41 documented cases of transporting over 500 migrants from Nepal, Yemen, and China. The smugglers allegedly facilitated entry via difficult mountain paths from Albania, providing temporary shelter, food, and communication tools at exorbitant prices. Migrants were often transported by bus to Athens, Patras, or abroad.
The organization reportedly earned at least 750,000 euros in illegal profits. In many instances, members allegedly withheld migrants' passports as collateral, forcing them into undocumented agricultural labor in the Peloponnese to repay debts. Police seized vehicles, mobile devices, and passports during the raids.
Entities
Albania · Crete · EKAB · Europol · Greek Police · Hellenic Police · Hellenic Red Cross · Lapathos Gorge · Lasithi · Sub-directorate for Combating Organized Crime of Northern Greece · Thesprotia · Thessaloniki
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] A foreign national was arrested in Thessaloniki for allegedly leading an organization targeting elderly women. dete.gr · www.stoxos.gr · www.tovima.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 16 SOURCES] The smuggling ring allegedly earned at least 750,000 euros. kriti360.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · www.bloko.gr · seleo.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +11 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Smugglers allegedly used migrants' passports as collateral for debt repayment through labor. kriti360.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.in.gr · pelop.gr · +1 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] The smuggling ring allegedly moved more than 500 migrants. kriti360.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · www.bloko.gr · seleo.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +11 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] Ten people were arrested in the migrant smuggling operation. kriti360.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · www.bloko.gr · seleo.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +11 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] A migrant smuggling ring was dismantled in Thesprotia and Thessaloniki. kriti360.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · www.bloko.gr · seleo.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +10 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The fraud ring used phone calls to impersonate relatives and police officers. dete.gr · www.stoxos.gr · www.tovima.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 8 SOURCES] The fraud ring stole 21,200 euros, 46 gold sovereigns, and jewelry worth 60,000 euros. dete.gr · www.stoxos.gr · www.tovima.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The operation was carried out in cooperation with Europol. www.epiruspost.gr · www.bloko.gr · www.brif.mk · fonimaleviziou.gr
- [● 7 SOURCES] The migrants were from Nepal, Yemen, and China. www.iefimerida.gr · www.in.gr · pelop.gr · www.dnews.gr · www.insider.gr · +2 more