Coast Guard Command

Tensions between Greece and Turkey are rising after the latter issued an international warning Navigational Telex signal (NAVTEX) effectively blockading access around the Greek island of Kastellorizo. Military sources in Athens note that the Navtex signal has completely encircled the Greek isle, which is located only 2km off the western coast of Turkey.

12 migrants drowned and 4 went missing near the coast of Kusadasi, Turkey, when their dinghy sank, Friday in the Aegean Sea. 5 children were among the dead, while the two Turkish human traffickers were arrested. According to Turkish TV channel NTV, the small boat was carrying 22 people and was heading to the Greek island of Samos, while Turkish news agency DHA 7 people were rescued.

The Turkish Coast Guard has captured 83 people trying to cross into Italy illegally from the Aegean resort town of Çeşme in a U.S.-flagged luxury yacht. 

Some 82 of the smuggled migrants were Syrian, while one was an Afghan, according to security sources. 

Three more people on board, all of whom were Ukrainians, were also detained on suspicion they were part of the crew. 

A total of 289 migrants were apprehended off Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coasts over the past week, Turkish Interior Ministry announced on March 12.

Between March 3 and March 10, Turkish Coast Guards intercepted 289 migrants in seven separate incidents and arrested seven migrant smugglers, the ministry's written statement read.

At least 130 migrants were apprehended off the Çeşme district in the Aegean province of İzmir as they attempted to reach the nearby Greek island of Chios on March 5, Turkish Coast Guard officials have said.      

A Turkish Coast Guard search-and-rescue ship found two boats with migrants trying to reach Greece.      

Turkey has seized at least 13 tons of drugs in powdered form from a Bolivia-registered ship in its first-ever anti-narcotics operation in international waters near Libya's Tobruk Port. 

Most of the migrants who risk their lives trying to reach European Union member Greece from Turkey's shores use dinghies to pass over the Aegean Sea as few can afford safer modes of transport, with the number of voyages of hope increasing rapidly, according to fresh data. 

The Turkish government is going to set up new comprehensive border security unit encompassing territorial security, coast guard and customs security, the Turkish interior minister has said.

Efkan Ala announced the creation of a new comprehensive border security unit called "professional armed border security unit," which will be run by civil authorities instead of the army.