Greeks detain dozens of illegal immigrants

ATHENS: Authorities detained dozens of immigrants who crossed into the country illegally from neighbouring Turkey on Tuesday.

In one incident, 28 illegal immigrants - all men of unknown nationality - were detained by the coast guard on the island of Kalymnos, officials said.

Also on Tuesday, border guards near the northern city of Thessaloniki detained 38 illegal immigrants on a highway where they were abandoned by people who had smuggled them into Greece. Police said the 18 Iraqis, 17 Pakistanis, two Palestinians and one Iranian had sneaked across a river that separates Greece and Turkey and been put on the truck after the crossing.

Each year thousands of illegal immigrants from Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe attempt to enter the European Union through Greece. Many come by sea from Turkey. ap

Home | National