Five Greek border police officers have been arrested on suspicion of taking bribes and breach of duty in connection with a smuggling network that illegally brought migrants into Greece from Turkiye.
The officers are accused of helping to smuggle migrants on at least 12 occasions in the Didymoteicho area in northeastern Greece.
The evidence in the case includes nearly 60 cellphones, Turkish lira and banknotes from a number of Asian countries.
Thousands of migrants, mainly from Syria,
Afghanistan and Pakistan, have crossed into Greece from Turkiye in recent years.
With the stepping up of patrols in the Aegean Sea, more migrants are taking their chances by crossing the River Evros and having traffickers take them by road.
Athens plans to extend a fence along the river by 35 kilometers to help prevent illegal crossings.