Crete is coming under mounting migration pressure as smugglers increasingly redirect illegal crossings toward Greece’s southern islands, exposing the limits of EU border control and shifting routes across the Mediterranean.

Greek authorities confirmed that more than 1,000 illegal migrants have arrived on Crete during December alone, with over 650 intercepted or rescued in just the past two days. On Friday, the Greek Coast Guard, supported by the EU border agency Frontex, rescued 545 migrants from an overcrowded fishing vessel detected off Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island.

The migrants were transferred to Crete, where local authorities are already struggling with limited reception capacity. Further incidents followed overnight. A Coast Guard patrol intercepted a dinghy carrying 27 people some 45 nautical miles southeast of Kales Limeni, while another boat with 35 migrants was found near Psari Forada, in the municipality of Viannos. All were brought ashore and are expected to be placed in migrant facilities.

Officials say the surge reflects a deliberate shift by smuggling networks exploiting calmer winter weather and the short maritime distance between eastern Libya and Crete. Many vessels are believed to depart from Tobruk, barely 300 kilometres away. Although shorter than routes to Italy, the crossing remains lethal. Just weeks ago, 14 Egyptian migrants drowned and 13 others disappeared after their inflatable boat sank south-west of Crete.

Greek authorities acknowledge that while overall illegal entries into Greece fell by 18% this year—down to 39,495 by the end of October—the pressure has simply shifted geographically. Crete and Gavdos have emerged as new hotspots as smugglers adapt to tighter controls elsewhere.

The growing pressure on Crete is likely to fuel further debate over EU migration strategy, as frontline states warn that EU-level solutions remain ineffective while illegal routes continue to shift rather than disappear.

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