More migrants deported on charter flights
The Greek Police said on Wednesday that another 34 undocumented immigrants had been deported to their countries of origin as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration.
A total of 27 Bangladeshi national, three Algerians, three Iraqis and one Ukrainian were sent back to their homelands after their presence in Greece was deemed to be illegal, a police statement said.
The returns were carried out on charter flights from Athens to Algiers, Erbil, Dhaka and Kiev.
More than 20,000 immigrants have been questioned by police since the launch of an operation, code-named Xenios Zeus and aimed at curbing illegal immigration, in early August. Of these, more than 2,400 were arrested on charges of illegal residence.
Earlier this week, the government decided to set up four new reception centers for immigrants on islands of the Aegean to tackle a rising influx of would-be migrants into Greece by sea that has been prompted by more effective policing along the Turkish land border. The centers are to be located on Chios, Lesvos, Samos and Rhodes.
