Afghan migrant smuggler nabbed on Samos

A 26-year-old Afghan man was arrested on Christmas Day for smuggling migrants into Greece, authorities reported on Thursday. The incident occurred early in the morning when a coast guard rescue boat spotted a disabled speedboat northeast of the island of Samos. 

The boat carried 35 people, including 13 men, seven women, and 15 minors. The migrants were safely transferred to the port of Malagari and handed over to local police for processing. They were taken to the island's Closed Controlled Facility at Zervou, where, as of December 23, 3,789 asylum seekers were being housed. 

The smuggler, identified by the migrants, was arrested on charges of illegal entry and human trafficking. 

The coast guard seized the smuggling boat and a mobile phone from the suspect. 

The Samos port authority is conducting an investigation into the incident.