The National Maritime Authority (AMN) has stated in a communiqué that the vessel “Molivos” and seven Maritime Police officers were involved in the mission, in cooperation with Greek and Latvian authorities.
The crew aboard “Molivos”, deployed to the island of Gavdos in southern Crete, commenced their patrols earlier this week, as reported by the AMN on World Refugee Day.
“The intervention was among the first actions undertaken by the engaged personnel and underscores the importance of the Portuguese operational presence in controlling the European Union’s external borders (Frontex), aiming to prevent, detect, and combat illicit activities such as human trafficking, illegal fishing, and other threats to maritime security, as well as gathering information on criminal networks,” it emphasized.
The rescue, conducted as part of the joint operation “Greece 2025”, was coordinated by Hellenic authorities and Frontex, serving as “an example of the search and rescue component of the mission, with the primary goal of safeguarding human lives at sea.”
Situated on the European Union’s external borders in the southeastern Mediterranean, Greece is a major gateway into Europe for people fleeing war and poverty.
The AMN further highlighted that migrants intercepted on European soil are “properly identified by competent authorities, with appropriate measures adopted in accordance with their legal status.”
These actions contribute “to ensuring an orderly management of borders and preventing migrants from entering the European area without any registration or identity verification.”
