Two Turkish nationals were arrested at the main port on the eastern Aegean island of Hios this week (Chios) on migrant smuggling charges, with local media claiming the pair were involved in the "VIP transportation" of third country nationals from the opposite Turkish coast onto Greek territory.
A luxury cruiser, the "Dark Creek", was also confiscated. Authorities said the pair, 27 and 28 years old, were paid 4,000 euros by at least one 45-year-old woman to ferry her to Hios aboard the pleasure craft.
In a related development, the Greek coast guard detected an inflatable craft carrying 49 third country nationals late Wednesday evening south of the isle of Farmakonissi. The vessel and the group of irregular migrants were later taken to Leros.
