A 13-year-old boy from South Sudan has been arrested near the Greek island of Gavdos for allegedly piloting a migrant ve...

A 13-year-old boy from South Sudan has been arrested near the Greek island of Gavdos for allegedly piloting a migrant vessel carrying 34 people from Libya. A second minor, a 17-year-old also from South Sudan, was arrested on September 21 in Crete, accused of steering a dinghy with 50 migrants on board. Both were identified as the person navigating their respective vessels by passengers on the boats. The 13-year-old's boat was intercepted roughly 60 kilometers from Gavdos and had to be rescued by Frontex, the EU's external border agency. Both teenagers face potential charges of violating Greek immigration law, facilitating illegal entry, and endangering lives. Investigations into their exact roles are ongoing. This is part of a growing pattern. Just last month, four other minors, including a 14-year-old, were arrested in Crete on similar charges. Investigators note that many of these youths are not core members of smuggling networks but are reportedly offered cheaper passage in exchange for navigating the boats. Young migrants from Eritrea are also increasingly being put in this position by smuggling gangs operating out of Libya. More than 15,000 people have landed on Crete alone so far this year, according to UNHCR, making it the largest irregular entry point into Greece. Another 13,000 have entered through other routes. Nearly a third of all irregular arrivals this year are Sudanese war refugees, according to UN figures, followed by Bangladeshis at around a quarter, with Afghans and Egyptians each accounting for just under 10 percent. The Libya-to-Crete route has grown significantly since a 2016 EU-Turkey deal sharply reduced crossings through the Aegean, pushing smuggling networks to reorganize operations out of eastern Libya. #Greece #Immigration #Frontex