Small Turkish-flagged freighter loaded with hundreds would-be migrants detected east of Crete

Greece’s coast guard on Friday afternoon released a video showing efforts to assist a small freighter packed with roughly 400 would-be migrants east of the large island of Crete in international waters. Earlier, an emergency call had been placed to a pan-European hotline.

According to reports, the vessel flies a Turkish flag and is reputedly involved in the smuggling of illegal migrants from Turkey to an unknown destination in the European Union, possibly Greece or Italy.

Greek authorities have contacted Frontex in order for a Turkish-flagged vessel to arrive and transport the people on board the out-of-control vessel back to Turkey. The same reports claimed that no danger to life was involved.

Migrant smuggling rings operated from Turkey have for years smuggled and attempted to smuggle hundreds of thousands of third country nationals onto Greek territory, part of efforts to reach preferred central and western European destinations.