This morning at 10:00, the Hellenic Coast Guard Offshore Vessel 080 docked at the port of Lavrio, carrying a total of 247 foreign nationals from 5 incidents that occurred over the past 24 hours in the sea area south of Gavdos and Crete.

The 247 migrants entered illegally from Libya, and under the new framework introduced with the asylum suspension amendment, they are not allowed to apply for asylum and are immediately placed in detention and return procedures. Consequently, these individuals will neither be accommodated in the Ministry of Migration’s reception facilities nor remain free. Upon their arrival in Lavrio, the police began transferring them to the PRE-REMOVAL DETENTION CENTERS (PROKEKA). At the same time, the Ministry of Migration has secured facilities that will be handed over to the police to serve as detention areas for others who may enter illegally.

According to officials from the Ministry of Migration, the government’s message is clear: anyone entering illegally from Libya, under this amendment, will not submit an asylum application; a return order will be issued for them, and until then they will be detained. The same procedure will be applied to any new illegal arrivals.

Plevris: We send a clear message

Thanos Plevris sent a new message against illegal migration, referring to the 247 foreign nationals who arrived in the country from Libya, who are not entitled to apply for asylum and are immediately placed under detention and return procedures.

“The 247 who entered illegally have been arrested and are already being taken by the police to detention facilities. Similarly, in close cooperation with the Coast Guard and the police, we are converting Ministry of Migration facilities into closed detention centers to place them in custody until their return, as well as anyone else who is arrested,” Thanos Plevris wrote on X.

“The message is clear: we do not accept their asylum applications, we arrest them, we place them in detention facilities, and we initiate their return process,” added the Minister of Migration.

Another 63 migrants rescued off Gavdos by the Coast Guard and Frontex

The Coast Guard and Frontex vessels, under the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), located and rescued 63 foreign nationals who were on a boat in the sea area south of Gavdos.

The rescued foreign nationals were transferred to the port of Karave in Gavdos and are waiting to learn where they will be sent next.

It is worth noting that on Saturday morning, a total of 175 people arrived from Libya to Crete in 3 separate incidents.