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Greek authorities have uncovered a human trafficking network that repurposed seized boats for smuggling migrants, exposing a shocking loophole in maritime enforcement.
At least four boats, previously confiscated for being used in migrant smuggling, were purchased at auction by members of the criminal network and put back into illegal operations. Investigators believe as many as 10 boats may have been recycled in this way, slipping through the cracks of the legal system designed to curb trafficking.
A Familiar Smuggling Route
The suspected mastermind behind the operation is a 44-year-old Georgian man with a long history of criminal activity. Authorities have been tracking him since 2018 for suspected involvement in both drug and human trafficking. His network also had links to Turkish criminals, who played a key role in coordinating and carrying out the smuggling missions.
One recent case shed light on the group's tactics. A Turkish captain was caught attempting to smuggle 74 migrants aboard a boat that had previously been seized in the Dodecanese. Investigators discovered that the vessel had been fraudulently registered under both Greek and Polish documentation, suggesting a sophisticated operation designed to evade detection.
Authorities are also investigating a common email address used by the smuggling ring, which may be linked to multiple illicit operations.
A Growing Challenge for Authorities
This discovery shows the persistence of human trafficking networks in the region and the challenges authorities face in permanently shutting them down. Even when boats are seized, the system’s weaknesses allow criminals to reclaim and reuse them, keeping the cycle of illegal migration alive.
Greek officials have now launched a deeper investigation into how these vessels ended up back in the wrong hands and whether reforms are needed to prevent history from repeating itself.
*With information from Kathimerini.gr
