Official figures have shown that police have taken action against more than 250,000 illegal migrants and human smugglers so far this year.
According to the National Police Headquarters (ORFK), the figures have almost doubled since last year, from 109,117 cases registered between Jan. 1 and Nov. 20 last year. In addition to an increase in the number of cases, border violators have become more aggressive, damaging police and army vehicles and cameras using stones and bricks. Human smugglers have also been acting in more violently, and whenever they suspect possible police checks, they try to flee the scene, leaving the migrants behind, it added. Police apprehended 1,730 human smugglers between Jan. 1 and Nov. 20 this year, as against 1,109 in the same period of last year, the ORFK said.