A joint investigation by Greek and international media outlets has uncovered significant flaws in how Greek authorities handled the aftermath of the Pylos shipwreck, one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest migrant tragedies.
Greek non-profit newsroom Solomon and the Arab investigative journalism network ARIJ collaborated with El Pais, The New Humanitarian and Die Tageszeitung to publish their findings.
On 14 June 2023, a fishing trawler carrying an estimated 750 migrants sank off the southern Greek coast, leaving over 500 dead or missing. Among the 104 survivors were nine Egyptians who were arrested and accused of migrant smuggling, despite emerging evidence suggesting they were victims of a smuggling network.
Egyptian authorities launched their own investigation, identifying 36 individuals linked to the smuggling network responsible for organizing the journey. Egypt had shared its findings with Greece within a month after the tragedy, demonstrating that the nine detained men had no connection to the smugglers. Egyptian evidence revealed the men had paid large sums to reach Europe, just like the other migrants on board.
Despite receiving this information, Greek prosecutors proceeded with the case, holding the nine men in prison for nearly a year. The investigation found that Greek authorities ignored evidence exonerating the detainees and delayed cooperating with Egypt.
A Greek court ultimately acquitted the nine in May 2024, citing jurisdictional issues as the sinking occurred in international waters. However, the men’s compensation claims for wrongful imprisonment were denied.
Meanwhile, Egypt prosecuted members of the smuggling ring, leading to life sentences for several individuals, including the network’s leader, Abu Sultan. Evidence gathered by Egyptian authorities highlighted the smuggling network’s extensive operations, spanning Egypt and Libya, and its use of false promises to exploit vulnerable migrants.
The findings underscore concerns about the criminalization of migrants in Europe. Human rights advocates argue that Greece’s actions reflect a broader pattern of shifting blame from systemic failures to individuals seeking safety. The case raises pressing questions about accountability and the effectiveness of international efforts to combat smuggling while protecting migrants’ rights.
