A well -organized operation of illegal transfer of immigrants from the Turkish coast to Rhodes was unveiled on Sunday 25/5, following coordinated Coast Guard actions.

According to authorities, after exploiting information, a suspected yacht was found to sail at high speed in the “Lacaia” maritime area of ​​Rhodes, heading to Turkey.

A port patrol boat immediately pursued it, using sound and bright signals to stop it. Despite the dangerous avoidance and maneuvers of the yacht, the boat eventually stopped all three occupants, nationals of Turkey aged 39, 44 and 45, were arrested.

At the same time, in the wider land area, executives of the First Port Department of Lindos and the Rhodes Police Department found 76 foreigners: 29 men, 17 women and 30 minors.

According to their statements, they had boarded Turkey’s coasts on an inflatable auxiliary boat, which transported them to the yacht. The movement is said to have started from the Fetigier area, with each person paying the amount of 5,500 euros for the transfer.

The preliminary investigation revealed an organized network of illegal trafficking. THE 39 -year -oldHe was recognized as the main trafficker, the 45 -year -old as an operator of the auxiliary vessel and assistant of the former, while the 44 -year -old allegedly had the role of coordinator in the transport operation from Turkey to Greece.

The three Turkish nationals were arrested and accused of participating in a criminal organization (Article 187 CC), facilitating illegal entry into the country (Article 25 of Law 5038/23) and a breach of Law 3386/05 on illegal entry of foreigners.

The two boats used – the yacht and the inflatable tender – were seized by the authorities.

The preliminary investigation is continued by the Central Port Authority of Rhodes, while the case brings to light the deliberate and repetitive practices of criminal immigrants in the Aegean.