Azerbaijani arrested off Greek coast for migrant smuggling

Greek coast guard arrested an 18-year-old Azerbaijani citizen on charges of human smuggling after intercepting a speedboat off the eastern coast of Samos island, local media reported.

The boat was spotted empty at sea after allegedly dropping off a group of irregular migrants from Turkey. Following the suspect's interrogation, police located 12 migrants near Vlamari port and transferred them to a temporary facility.

The arrest comes a day after two other Azerbaijani nationals, aged 22 and 23, were detained with 24 migrants aboard a speedboat. Greek authorities have reported a rise in Azerbaijani involvement in migrant smuggling networks operating from Turkey.

N.Tebrizli