Two speedboats carrying a total of 37 migrants were stopped after they were pursued by Port Authority patrol boats in Misterand during the operation, three ship operators allegedly involved in human trafficking were arrested.

In particular, on Thursday evening, a patrol boat noticed a suspicious boat moving at high speed in the Therma Sea area on the island of Kos. Light and sound signals were used, after which the chase began, the boat operator repeatedly tried to ram the Coast Guard vessel. Harbor Corps officers fired warning shots in the safe area and at the outboards, immobilizing the boat and arresting two foreign operators believed to be traffickers and the remaining twenty foreigners.

Also in the same area, another speedboat was seen moving suspiciously and at high speed, not responding to the use of light and sound signals. In this case, too, a chase ensued, the boat operator attempted to ram the Coast Guard vessel, resulting in accurate shots at the outboards, the boat was subsequently immobilized, and the foreign operator was arrested allegedly as a smuggler of the other seventeen foreigners.

“The officers of the Coast Guard have once again proven their effectiveness in guarding our maritime borders. The arrest of the three traffickers is another success and another blow to the unscrupulous circles that exploit our unfortunate brothers, putting their lives in mortal danger,” said Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Yiannis Plakiotakis.

Coast Guard announcement

Tonight, the patrol boat L.S.-EL.ACT. while on a scheduled patrol, he noticed a suspicious speedboat moving at high speed in the area of ​​​​the TERMA sea in the village of Kos.

Patrol vessel L.S.-EL.AKT. he used light and sound signals to immobilize him, but with negative results.

A chase ensued, the operator of the boat T/X repeatedly tried to ram the patrol boat LS-EL.AKT., and the crew of LS-EL.AKT. fired warning shots in a safe area with negative results.

After that, the crew of the L.S.-EL.AKT. fired aimed shots at the outboards in accordance with the rules of engagement, which resulted in the immobilization of the boat and the arrest of two (02) foreign operators, alleged traders by the remaining twenty (20) foreigners.

Also today in the evening hours in the same area of ​​the sea (“TERMA”, Kos village), another speedboat was seen moving suspiciously and at high speed, not responding to the light and sound signals from the LS-EL.AKT patrol boat. .

Again, a chase ensued when the boat operator T/X attempted to ram the LS-EL.AKT.

After that, the crew of the L.S.-EL.AKT. fired aimed shots at the outboards in accordance with the rules of engagement, which resulted in the immobilization of the boat and the arrest of one (01) foreign operator allegedly trading with the remaining seventeen (17) foreigners.

Any possible developments will be reported in a new press release.