Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push other migrants back across border
Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push others back across border
Recent evidence compiled by the BBC suggests that Greek law enforcement agencies are employing migrants as enforcers to forcibly repel others returning from Turkey. Internal police records reveal that senior officers authorized and monitored the recruitment of so-called mercenaries, with guards detailing the process in documents reviewed by the outlet.
Allegations of brutality and exploitation
Witnesses have recounted incidents of migrants being stripped, robbed, beaten, and subjected to sexual assault. Claims indicate that these mercenaries, often masked, have been operating unofficially along the border since 2020. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, admitted to being “totally unaware” of the allegations during a March interview with the BBC, though he emphasized Greece’s efforts to secure its borders.
“There is no soldier, police officer or Frontex (EU border agency) officer serving here in Evros who does not know that pushbacks are taking place,” stated a local police source.
Investigations by the BBC, in partnership with the Consolidated Rescue Group (CRG), began last autumn after receiving video footage allegedly depicting mistreatment by mercenaries. The footage, shared by a smuggler disillusioned with his network, shows migrants ambushed in Evros in June 2023. While the content remains unverified, it aligns with accounts from multiple independent sources.
Border dynamics and legal implications
The 200km land frontier between Greece and Turkey, spanning the Evros River, is a critical entry point into the EU. Refugees and asylum seekers crossing into Greece enter a militarized zone with watchtowers. Migrants from countries like Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan are reportedly recruited as mercenaries, receiving cash, stolen mobiles, and documents enabling passage through Greece.
A Frontex investigation found that 10 to 20 “third-country nationals” were acting under Greek officers’ direction during the June 2023 incident. These individuals subjected migrants to death threats, sexualized searches, and physical abuse, including beating and theft. The report concluded that the forced return to Turkey violated EU human rights law. Greek authorities have disputed this, stating no migrants from the group were present on that day.
Human rights concerns and ongoing patterns
The Greek human rights commission (GNCHR) has documented over 100 alleged forced returns in Evros since 2020, with recent cases in October 2025. President Maria Gavouneli calls these findings an “extremely significant” breach of human rights. Although the number of incidents has declined, dozens still involve non-Greek nationals, raising questions about the scale of the issue.
Frontex has denied any suggestion of complicity in the allegations, but the BBC’s investigation highlights persistent challenges in border management. The use of migrants as agents for pushbacks underscores growing concerns about the legality and ethics of Greece’s approach to migration control.
