Two young men, aged 25 and 19, were brought before a prosecutor after being arrested in connection with a tragic shipwreck that resulted in multiple fatalities near the southern coast of Heraklion, Crete. They are accused of manslaughter due to negligence, causing a shipwreck, and illegal entry into the country. The incident occurred when their vessel, carrying 50 migrants, sent out an SOS signal a few miles off the coast, prompting a swift emergency response from local authorities.

According to reports, the migrants had embarked from Tobruk, Libya, paying significant sums for their transport to Greece, which highlights the dangers and the financial exploitation faced by those fleeing their home countries. The two traffickers are reportedly from South Sudan and Sudan, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of individuals involved in human smuggling operations.

This tragic event has underscored the ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterranean, raising concerns about the safety of people attempting to reach Europe and the harsh conditions they face along the journey. The arrest of the traffickers is part of a broader effort by Greek authorities to combat human trafficking and improve maritime safety amidst the continuing challenges of managing migrant flows in the region.