Samos receives 365 migrants transferred from Crete for processing

On Wednesday evening, 365 migrants were transferred from Crete to Samos via a SeaJets ferry, arriving at the commercial port at 19:00. The individuals were transported to the Samos Closed Controlled Facility (KED) using ten buses, coordinated by the Coast Guard and the Samos Police Directorate.

This movement is part of a plan by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum to temporarily move migrants from Crete to island facilities specifically for registration and administrative processing. Following registration, 250 of the migrants are scheduled to depart Samos for the mainland via the ‘Lefka Ori’ ferry line.

The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Pleuris, has maintained a commitment that such emergency transfers to the islands will not lead to a permanent increase in the number of people staying in these facilities.

However, the Mayor of East Samos, Paris Papageorgiou, has expressed reservations, noting that this specific transfer was not discussed in previous meetings with the Minister. Local authorities are requesting timely and official notification of any planned transfers to ensure the local community and relevant agencies are not informed after the fact, emphasizing that arrivals must be balanced by departures to avoid overburdening the island's infrastructure.