Greek authorities have revealed that illegal migrants are gathering on Turkey’s Aegean coast after having been transferred from camps.
According to sources used by Kathimerini, many of them were at the Greek-Turkish land border at Evros and Turkey has organised a plan to transport the illegal immigrants infected with coronavirus to Greece and Europe in the midst of the pandemic. Immigrant movements from the interior of Turkey to the coasts are carried out in perfect order under the coordination of the Turkish Gendarmerie and the Police.
Hundreds of migrants and boats have been spotted in places opposite the islands of Lesvos and Chios, the two main points of target for immigrants to illegally enter Greece. The information so far is that most of them come from Edirne and Osmaniye. The same sources told Kathimerini that most of them had been quarantined for 14 days due to suspicious symptoms of having coronavirus. The illegal immigrants then tried to move to other Turkish cities, but this weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly imposed a lockdown on 31 of them. Instead of being allowed to stay in Turkey, they were transported by bus to the coast of Turkey.
It is expected that these immigrants will try to illegally enter Greece today and for this reason the Hellenic Navy and Coast Guard have been put on alert. In the area, in addition to the Coast Guard vessels, two warships are already operating, while the order for immediate reinforcement of the forces with other ships (such as gunboats) has already been given. The orders are clear, no boat should be allowed to illegally enter Greek territory.
The same sources said that we should expect Turkey to violate Greek airspace at higher frequency over Lesvos, Chios and Evros to try and divert Greek attention from this smuggling effort coordination by Ankara, and the source has been proven correct as this is currently occuring.
Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Varvaisiotis has told Greek television that the Greek Coast Guard has received orders to prevent any vessel carrying migrants from entering Greek territorial waters on grounds of “national security ans public health.”
Earlier this month Turkey were caught trying to send illegal immigrants infected with coronavirus, as reported by Greek City Times.
