Police in northern Greece have arrested seven suspected members of migrant-smuggling networks operating along the Evros border region with Turkey, authorities said.
The arrests were made over three days in the northeastern Evros area, near Alexandroupoli and Orestiada, where officers intercepted vehicles suspected of transporting migrants deeper into the country. Police said the suspects, all foreign nationals, were involved in moving groups of up to ten migrants at a time toward Thessaloniki, a key transit point for onward travel into Europe.
In total, 39 migrants were found during the coordinated operations. Investigators reported that smugglers often used cramped vehicles, with at least one case involving a driver without a license and another involving a stolen car taken from the Athens region.
Authorities say the migrants had crossed illegally from Turkey into Greece before being transported westward along smuggling routes that continue toward central and western Europe.
The Evros region remains one of the main entry points into Greece despite increased border enforcement, including fencing along sections of the land border. So far in 2026, more than 2,100 people have entered Greece via Evros, while thousands more have arrived through maritime routes from Libya to Crete.
Migration pressure across the route remains high, with smuggling networks adapting to border restrictions by shifting tactics and using more covert transportation methods.
Last year, around 7,000 people crossed the Evros border, while total arrivals to Greece—including sea crossings—reached nearly 49,000.