Four South Sudanese Teenagers Detained in Crete for Smuggling Migrants
Greek coast guard officials in Crete have detained four teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, accused of piloting boats that smuggle African migrants to the island.
Operation details
Local media reported that the boys, all South Sudanese, were identified after other passengers on the vessels confirmed they were the drivers. According to the guard, the Mediterranean crossing takes one and a half to two days and has become the main route for irregular migrants to reach Greece, replacing the shorter passage from Turkey’s western coast to the eastern Aegean islands.
Regional context
Investigations point to Libyan smuggling gangs based in the coastal city of Tobruk that regularly employ South Sudanese minors to navigate boats bound for Crete, amid a surge in African asylum‑seekers trying to reach Europe.
The case underscores the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation to curb the exploitation of under‑age individuals in maritime trafficking.
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