Nine Egyptians have have been charged with human trafficking after a tragic migrant boat disaster occurred off the coast of Greece last week, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. The accused, aged between 20 and 40 years old, were apprehended in the port of Kalamata following their survival of the disaster. They now face charges of manslaughter and organizing a criminal group, offenses that carry a potential life imprisonment sentence upon conviction. Pending their trial, they will remain in custody.
During a lengthy hearing before a magistrate in Kalamata, which spanned over 10 hours, the men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Only 104 individuals, comprising Egyptians, Pakistanis, Syrians, and Palestinians, managed to survive one of the most devastating shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea on June 14. The tragic incident claimed the lives of at least 82 victims, with ongoing search efforts to locate potential survivors continuing for a seventh consecutive day.
Survivors have reported that women and children were trapped in the vessel’s hold as it rapidly capsized and sank into one of the Mediterranean’s deepest areas. Greek authorities remain uncertain about the exact number of people aboard the boat at the time of the sinking, with estimates ranging from 400 to over 700.
Greek naval forces, including a frigate, a patrol boat, and four other vessels, have been engaged in search operations in the waters off the Peloponnese peninsula, where the migrants vanished. Unfortunately, as time passes, the likelihood of finding additional survivors diminishes. As questions persist regarding whether more could have been done to avert this tragedy, the Greek Coast Guard has reiterated its adherence to maritime law, defending its actions.
Initially, the Greek coast guard stated that the migrant boat was headed steadily toward Italy, leading to no intervention. Later, they claimed to have attempted assistance by attaching a rope to the vessel, which the migrants allegedly untied. However, human rights organizations contend that survivor testimonies contradict the coast guard’s account. Amnesty International’s Kondylia Gogou, in an interview with VOA stated that: “The survivors are saying that the rope was given — and they understand that the cause of the incident was that rope being tied (to) them, and then the ship taking the wrong turn and sinking.”
“We think that it’s really essential that a proper and independent and effective investigation takes place. You can see from the aerial pictures that this is an unseaworthy vessel. So, you are obliged to intervene, this is your duty. And there’s a failure, there’s a delay,” she added.
Greece, while launching a judicial investigation into the incident, maintains its position that the migrants neither sought help nor faced imminent danger until the boat sank.
In a separate development, Pakistani authorities announced the arrest of seven alleged key figures involved in a human trafficking ring linked to the sinking of an overcrowded smuggling vessel off Greece. The vessel’s sinking resulted in the disappearance of more than 500 migrants, including Pakistanis. In a broader crackdown on traffickers, the government apprehended thirty additional suspects in Pakistan, who are currently being questioned regarding their involvement in facilitating smuggling activities.
