Migrant smuggling with luxury yachts on the rise: Operation in Greece
Migrant smuggling from the coasts of Muğla to the island of Rhodes using luxury motor yachts costs 5,500 Euros per person. The Greek coast guard frequently conducts operations to prevent this smuggling.
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The Greek coast guard and the Rhodes Port Authority uncovered migrant smuggling being carried out with a 26-meter luxury motor yacht during an operation off the coast of Rhodes.
A total of 76 migrants, consisting of 29 men, 17 women, and 30 children, who were picked up from the coasts of Fethiye, were caught on the return journey after being dropped off on the island of Rhodes. As a result of the operation, three Turkish citizens aged 39, 44, and 45 were arrested along with the yacht.
The Greek coast guard seized the luxury motor yacht and the inflatable boat behind it. With the start of the tourism season, an increase has been observed in migrant smuggling carried out from the coasts of Muğla using luxury yachts.
Such smuggling activities have also been recorded by security cameras.
It has emerged that human smugglers have recently changed their strategy by using luxury boats, and that luxury boats are frequently used in new smuggling attempts.