Μake us preferred on Google Greek police have dismantled a migrant smuggling network accused of transporting more than 500 people into and through the country in 41 separate operations since at least June 2025.
Ten people were arrested in a coordinated operation in the northwestern region of Thesprotia and the northern city of Thessaloniki. Investigators estimate that the organization generated at least €750,000 in illegal proceeds.
According to police findings, the migrants came mainly from Nepal, Yemen and China. They entered Greece on foot through difficult mountain trails in Albania, reaching areas of Thesprotia, near the country’s northwestern border.
The network allegedly provided them with temporary accommodation in rented lodgings or makeshift tents, along with food, water and SIM cards, charging them exorbitant sums for these services. It then arranged their onward transportation, mainly by intercity bus to Athens and Patras, although some migrants were reportedly taken abroad.
Passports withheld over unpaid smuggling fees
Some of the migrants were subsequently directed to agricultural work in the Peloponnese, where they were employed outside legal procedures, police said.
In many cases, members of the network allegedly withheld migrants’ passports as security until they had repaid the money owed for their transportation through their work.
Of the 10 people arrested, seven are Greek nationals. The other three are foreign nationals: two Syrian men and an Albanian woman. A 26-year-old alleged accomplice is also implicated in the case and is already in pretrial detention.
Nine arrests were made in Sagiaida, in Thesprotia, and one in Thessaloniki.
To coordinate their activities and avoid detection, the suspects allegedly used a closed communications network through online messaging applications. They exchanged information about police movements and operations, according to the police announcement.
21 migrants arrested without legal residency documents
During searches of three homes and one business, police seized three cars, mobile phones and other electronic devices, €1,150 in cash and four passports.
Officers also arrested 21 foreign nationals who did not have legal documents allowing them to remain in Greece. Five were found at a property belonging to an alleged member of the network, where they were living and working illegally at his business.
The operation was conducted in cooperation with Europol, with officers from police services in Thesprotia, Thessaloniki and Patras taking part.
The 10 suspects are expected to appear before the competent judicial authorities in Thesprotia.
