Greek authorities have announced the arrival of 79 migrants on the southern Greek island of Gavdos after a dangerous sea crossing that began from Tobruk in eastern Libya, once again highlighting Libya’s central role in Mediterranean migration routes, according to Ekathimerini News.
According to the Greek coast guard, the migrants reached Gavdos on Sunday aboard a small vessel that departed from the Libyan coast. Two men, aged 23 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a migrant smuggling network. Authorities said both suspects are from southern Somalia and were allegedly paid to steer the boat from Tobruk towards Gavdos, located south of Crete.
The route linking eastern Libya to southern Greece has increasingly been used by migrant smuggling gangs, despite the extreme risks associated with the long Mediterranean crossing. Security officials in Greece described the journey as one of the most dangerous migration routes currently active in the region.
Libya remains a key transit country for migrants from Africa and other regions attempting to reach Europe by sea. Smuggling networks continue to exploit Libya’s vast coastline, political divisions, and limited border control capacity, placing thousands of migrants at risk of abuse, detention, and death.
United Nations data show that nearly 49,000 people entered Greece illegally in 2025. Around 42,000 arrived by sea, with approximately half departing from Libyan shores, underlining the scale of migration pressure linked to Libya. The remaining migrants entered Greece via its northeastern land border with Turkey.
The latest incident comes amid heightened international concern over human trafficking and migrant smuggling linked to Libya, particularly following recent discoveries of mass graves and secret detention sites for migrants in eastern and southern parts of the country.
Libyan authorities have repeatedly pledged to combat smuggling networks, while international organisations continue to call for stronger cooperation, improved border management, and greater protection for migrants transiting through Libya.
