Turkish Mafia’s Secret Plot to Spark New Migrant Crisis in the Aegean Exposed by Greek Intelligence

Greek authorities have uncovered a sophisticated plan by the Turkish mafia to reignite migrant flows across the Aegean Sea, using low-tech tactics to outmaneuver modern surveillance systems.

The operation came to light last week on the island of Chios, when two Turkish nationals were arrested while attempting to load 12,500 old-generation mobile phones onto a sailing boat. According to exclusive information published by Realnews, the phones were destined for migrant traffickers, specifically selected for their inability to be tracked by modern technology.

Going Back in Time to Escape the Radar

For years, the Hellenic Coast Guard has been using advanced surveillance systems to monitor mobile devices connected to the internet. By tracking GPS and online signals, authorities have been able to detect traffickers’ positions even while they’re en route across the open sea.

But something changed recently: electronic signals suddenly went silent. Boats were no longer visible, mobile data signals disappeared from maritime zones, and the usual tracking methods became ineffective.

The answer came in the form of a major bust: 12,500 phones ordered specifically without internet, GPS, or IMEI numbers, making them virtually invisible to tracking systems.

A Ghost Shipment: From Chinese Factory to Greek Island via Germany

The investigation revealed a meticulously planned smuggling operation:

• The phones were specially manufactured in China after a custom order was placed
• The buyer: a 72-year-old Turkish dentist, believed to be a high-ranking member of the Turkish mafia
• The shipment passed through a shell company based in Germany, with ties to an entity operating in Greece

The lack of IMEI numbers – the unique ID each phone has for network identification and tracking – was a critical detail. Without it, the devices could be used without leaving any trace, providing the ideal communication tool for human traffickers operating in the Aegean.

The phones, valued at €700,000, were intended to be smuggled back to Turkey via a sailing yacht, and distributed to trafficking networks in Izmir.

New Routes, New Tactics

The investigation has also revealed an evolution in how human smugglers operate:

• High-powered speedboats are used to cross the Aegean in the dead of night
• Navigation systems are deliberately turned off to avoid detection by maritime authorities
• Traffickers now often return to Turkey with the same boat, instead of abandoning vessels on Greek shores
• New landing points are being used, including remote beaches in mainland Greece, especially in Thessaly and Evia, avoiding the traditional island routes

These tactical shifts have made monitoring and interception much more difficult, pushing Greek authorities to rethink their approach.

Inside the Surveillance Operation

The Hellenic National Intelligence Service (EYP) had been monitoring the 62-year-old Turkish skipper of the yacht for months. He was repeatedly seen meeting with the 72-year-old dentist, who had previously been spotted in Chios six months earlier.

Once the yacht approached the port again, a coordinated operation was launched. Both men were arrested as they were loading the phones onto the boat, preparing to set sail for Turkey. Authorities suspect the devices would have armed thousands of traffickers with undetectable means of communication.

A Quiet Crisis? Not Quite. Over 15,000 Arrivals in 2025 So Far

Despite enhanced patrols and arrests, traffickers continue to send migrants to Greek shores. From January to mid-September 2025, 15,598 illegal migrant arrivals were recorded across the Aegean islands — excluding Crete, which sees separate trafficking routes from Libya.

While the visibility of the traffickers has decreased, the volume of activity remains high, prompting growing concern among security services.

The Technology War in the Aegean

The uncovering of the “low-tech” phone trafficking ring underscores a new phase in the long-standing battle between human traffickers and border enforcement. As authorities rely more on digital tracking, traffickers are adapting by deliberately downgrading technology to stay under the radar.

The case also highlights the need for closer cooperation between European intelligence and law enforcement agencies, as trafficking networks become more innovative and transnational.

The war for control of the Aegean’s waters is no longer just a matter of patrol boats and radar — it’s a technological chess game, and both sides are adapting rapidly.

Source: pagenews.gr