Greek authorities have arrested four minors accused of piloting migrant boats from Libya to Crete, as the country intensifies efforts to curb irregular migration and considers new arrangements to process asylum claims outside Greece.
The four teenagers, aged between 14 and 17 and identified as South Sudanese nationals, were arrested on August 14 after allegedly steering four boats carrying a combined 229 migrants to Crete over a period of about 36 hours, according to Greek authorities and local media reports.
The Hellenic Coast Guard said the teenagers were identified by migrants who had travelled on the vessels and allegedly told investigators that the minors were operating the boats on behalf of smuggling networks based in Libya.
Two additional South Sudanese nationals, aged 21 and 27, were also arrested. They are accused of piloting two other boats carrying a total of 132 migrants to the island.
All six suspects face charges including endangering passengers’ lives and facilitating irregular entry into Greece.
The arrests come as Crete continues to experience a significant increase in migrant arrivals from North Africa. The route from the Tobruk area of eastern Libya has become one of the main pathways for migrants attempting to reach Greece, replacing some routes traditionally used from Turkey.
The sea journey from eastern Libya to Crete stretches for more than 360 kilometres and is considered highly dangerous. Local reports indicate that hundreds of people have died along the route this year.
More than 10,000 migrants have reached Crete from Libya so far in 2026, accounting for roughly half of all irregular arrivals recorded in Greece during the period, according to official figures cited in the report.
Greek authorities have increasingly focused on suspected smuggling networks operating from eastern Libya. Officials and Greek media have reported that South Sudanese teenagers are frequently recruited to steer boats carrying migrants, although the circumstances surrounding each individual case remain subject to investigation.
The rise in crossings has also been linked to social media, where videos showing successful journeys to Crete can encourage others to attempt the dangerous voyage. Authorities and European officials have expressed concern that misleading information online can create unrealistic expectations about the ease of reaching Europe.
The issue has become particularly prominent following the mass arrival of migrants in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in July, when tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into Spanish territory.
European authorities have subsequently stepped up discussions with technology companies over the spread of misinformation and content that could encourage irregular migration.
However, migration pressures along the Libya-Crete route are also closely connected to the political situation in Libya.
Tobruk and much of eastern Libya are controlled by forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar, whose administration in the east operates separately from the internationally recognised authorities based in Tripoli.
The EU has continued to reject the eastern administration’s claim to legitimacy, but European governments have nevertheless been exploring ways to cooperate with authorities in the region to reduce migrant departures.
Libya expert Wolfram Lacher of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs has warned that Haftar and his family have considerable influence over migration routes departing from eastern Libya. He has argued that this could give them leverage in negotiations with European governments.
The proposed cooperation has generated controversy because Haftar’s forces have faced longstanding allegations of human rights abuses and involvement in trafficking networks.
According to documents cited in the report, European officials are considering increased maritime patrols and cooperation with eastern Libyan authorities to intercept boats carrying migrants toward Europe.
Under the reported plans, eastern Libyan forces could receive training and support for maritime operations, while cooperation could also extend to efforts against oil smuggling.
At the same time, Greece is pursuing a broader strategy focused increasingly on returns and agreements with countries outside the European Union.
Athens has been discussing arrangements under which migrants arriving in Greece could potentially be transferred to third countries for asylum processing. Those granted protection could remain in the country where their claims were assessed rather than being admitted to Greece.
Greek officials have confirmed that negotiations with Uganda over possible migrant facilities have reached an advanced stage, with the first transfers potentially taking place in 2027 if an agreement is finalised.
Other European countries, including Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, have reportedly shown interest in similar arrangements as governments seek alternatives for managing irregular migration and sharing the financial burden.
Supporters argue that agreements with third countries could strengthen Europe’s ability to return migrants who do not qualify for protection and discourage dangerous journeys.
Critics, however, warn that transferring asylum seekers outside Europe could undermine access to fair asylum procedures and international protection.
Spyros Oikonomou of the Greek Council for Refugees criticised the direction of Greek migration policy, arguing that safeguards surrounding asylum procedures were being weakened.
The legal position of the four minors arrested in Crete remains particularly sensitive. Although they are children, Greek authorities can apply certain provisions of immigration and criminal law to minors accused of facilitating irregular migration. The precise consequences for the teenagers will depend on the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings.
The arrests therefore highlight a wider challenge facing Greece and the European Union: efforts to disrupt smuggling networks are increasingly intersecting with the protection of children who may themselves have been recruited or exploited by those networks.
With migration from eastern Libya to Crete continuing, Greece is likely to face further pressure to balance border enforcement and anti-smuggling operations with its obligations toward asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants, particularly unaccompanied children.