Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push other migrants back across border
Greek Police Deploying Migrants as Border Enforcers
Recent investigations by the BBC suggest that Greek authorities have been utilizing migrants as armed operatives to repel asylum seekers back across the country’s land border with Turkey. This practice, supported by extensive evidence, includes internal police records detailing the systematic recruitment of so-called mercenaries by senior officers. The BBC’s findings reveal claims of harsh treatment, with testimonies from witnesses describing migrants being stripped of belongings, physically assaulted, and even sexually harassed during these operations.
Collaboration and Evidence Gathering
Working with the Consolidated Rescue Group, the BBC launched an inquiry last autumn after receiving video footage allegedly depicting migrants being mistreated by masked individuals. The clip, shared by a smuggler disillusioned with his network, was corroborated by accounts from other independent sources. While the content remains unverified, it aligns with reports of similar incidents. The Greek government has not yet addressed the BBC’s detailed written questions on the matter.
Border Dynamics and Legal Concerns
The land border between Greece and Turkey stretches 200 kilometers along the Evros River, forming the EU’s easternmost frontier. Refugees or unauthorized migrants crossing into Greece enter a militarized zone lined with watchtowers. A local police official stated that up to hundreds of individuals are reportedly sent back weekly through organized efforts. “Every officer stationed in Evros knows about these pushbacks,” the source emphasized.
Merchants of Forced Returns
It has been reported that these mercenaries are themselves migrants from countries such as Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan. They are allegedly incentivized with cash, seized mobile devices, and documents that grant them passage through Greece. In June 2023, footage showed a group of migrants, who had just entered Evros, being ambushed by masked figures. A Frontex-led investigation found that between 10 and 20 “third-country nationals” were under the direction of Greek officers, subjected to threats, body searches, and physical harm before being returned to Turkey.
Denials and Ongoing Allegations
Greek authorities have contested the Frontex report, denying that any migrants from the implicated group were present in the area on the day of the incident. The Fundamental Rights Office, an independent Frontex unit, has documented over 100 cases of alleged forced deportations in Evros since 2020, with dozens involving non-Greek nationals as recently as October 2025. Maria Gavouneli, head of Greece’s human rights commission, called the situation an “extremely significant” breach of rights.
Government Stance
In March, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the BBC he was “totally unaware” of the use of migrant mercenaries, though he defended the country’s border security efforts. He argued that European leaders are determined to avoid repeating past mistakes, such as allowing large numbers of migrants to enter the region unchecked.
