Greece Detains 1,200 Migrants in Three Days as Libya Arrivals Soar

Greek authorities have detained more than 1,200 migrants on the island of Crete and nearby Gavdos over a three-day period, amid a surge in arrivals from Libya, officials confirmed Monday.

The Greek coast guard intercepted several migrant boats between Saturday and Monday along Crete’s southern shores, prompting local officials to call for immediate support from the national government.

The influx coincided with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis’ visit to Libya, where he held talks with both the internationally recognized government and a rival eastern administration. The meetings aimed to address not only the escalating migration crisis but also long-standing maritime border disputes.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said increased patrols by the coast guard and navy are likely. “It’s a complex and extremely serious issue. Crete and its residents are under significant strain,” he said. “If diplomatic efforts fail, stricter and more extensive measures will be necessary to protect the country.”

So far this year, approximately 8,000 migrants have reached Crete—many risking the dangerous 220-mile journey across the Mediterranean in overcrowded, poorly constructed boats, often repurposed from scrap.

On Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island, local beaches are littered with abandoned dinghies and makeshift boats. Migrants like David, a young man from war-torn South Sudan, described harrowing conditions.

“After you pay the money, everything is by force. If you talk, they hit you,” he told the Associated Press. “The boat was very dangerous—too many people. We didn’t come to cause a problem. We came to save our lives.”

David said he hoped to find safety anywhere in Europe. “If you stay, you die,” he added.

European Commissioner Magnus Brunner is expected to visit Libya this week, accompanied by officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta, to urge Libyan authorities to take tougher action against human smuggling networks.

Meanwhile, officials in Crete say temporary shelters—including a port warehouse and an exhibition center—are overwhelmed and unfit for housing the growing number of arrivals. Authorities are urging swift intervention to avoid a humanitarian crisis.