Hundreds of refugees are being pushed back and many are being arrested at Evros, Greece’s border with Turkey which is also the shortest and safest route for refugees into Europe. “Following the failed coup in Turkey, the migration flows in the north and southern part of the region has increased greatly,” says Evros Border Guard Chief Chrysovalandis Gialamas, speaking to the Athens News Agency. “Hundreds are literally being prevented entry on a daily basis.”
Gialamas says that official figures from the Greek police show that arrests of undocumented migrants were at 91 percent and arrests of refugee smugglers have tripled. Since the start of summer, 80-85 percent of arrests have concerned male Pakistani nationals aged from 20 to 40 years. Only 10 percent of those trying to enter are Syrians and women and children are rarely captured. Regarding the identity of smugglers, Gialamas says that they are rarely Greeks and trafficking usually involves Pakistanis, Bulgarians, Romanians and Moroccans. He adds that the Moroccans, Algerians and Pakistani traffickers were also found to have a link with drugs, prostitution and other illegal activities.
Gialamas said that data so far shows that the majority of traffickers have lived in Greece for many years and know the language. Their main motivation in doing the job is easy money as they can get 1,500 euros for the transfer of six people to Thessaloniki. Modern smugglers have GPS equipment and other devices that help them do their job in a more effective way than in the past. Technology has aided them and has helped in the increase of migrants.
The police try to do their job in capturing smugglers without putting the lives of refugees, citizens and officers at risk. Speeding and shooting, even to scare smugglers, is avoided as are many other tactics employed by police in other countries.
Smugglers mainly use passes at Rhodope, where the mountain range is not as heavily guarded as at more central points.
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