Since October, they have helped at least a hundred migrants enter Greece by collaborating with traffickers who have paid them large sums of money. For this reason, 5 border guards working in the Didymoteicho municipality of the Meriç region on the Turkish border will be arrested and referred to the prosecutor’s office today. A search of the houses of the five agents found 26,550 euros in cash, 2,120 US dollars, Turkish lira, numerous banknotes from various Asian countries and 59 mobile phones.
At least 12 times since the end of October, the five suspects helped nearly 100 people cross the Maritsa River, which runs along Greece’s northeastern land border with Turkey, by boat, at least 12 times, police said. “According to the preliminary results of the investigation, police officers have been in contact with networks in Turkey since at least October and allegedly committed acts or omissions to facilitate the entry of (non-European) citizens into our country.” statement from the police
Evros is an important transit point for those seeking a better life in the European Union. In recent years, thousands of immigrants, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, have come to Greece from Turkey in hopes of entering Europe. Increasing patrols in the Aegean Sea make it difficult for migrants to reach the Greek islands, and more and more migrants are trying to cross the Meriç river, which separates Turkey from Greece, and are caught on the street by smugglers. That’s why Athens has decided to build a metal fence along the border, which is now 37.5 kilometers long, but the government plans to extend it by 35 kilometers in a year and another 100 kilometers by 2026.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
