On the Turkish coast a high-speed boat with about 30 to 40 foreigners escaped, which, in order to avoid control in the east of Rhodes, he began to carry out dangerous maneuvers striking a Coast Guard vessel and injuring a crew member.

According to the Coast Guard, an open sea ship of the Coast Guard during patrol noticed the speedboat with the foreigners sailing at high speed, at dawn, and without navigation lights, towards the eastern shores of Rhodes.

Immediately the offshore vessel’s auxiliary vessel was activated who used light and sound signals to immobilize it, with negative results. Instead, the speedboat picked up speed trying to escape. A chase ensued, with the speedboat operator repeatedly making dangerous maneuvers. During maneuvers and despite evasive actions, the speedboat struck the port side of the Coast Guard vessel resulting in property damage and a minor shoulder injury to an executive by his crew. The Coast Guard officer was taken to the General Hospital of Rhodes, where he was given first aid and discharged. The speedboat eventually escaped to the opposite Turkish coast.

Meanwhile, two foreigners aged 47 and 27 were arrested by the Coast Guard as they are alleged to be the traffickers of 65 foreigners with a sailboat in the maritime area of ​​12.5 nm. south of Thira.

According to the Coast Guard, the sailboat had set off from the Turkish coast bound for Italy, while the foreigners each paid $6,500approximately, for their transport.