Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push other migrants back across border

Greek Police Employing Migrants as Mercenaries for Border Pushbacks

Recent investigations by the BBC suggest that Greek law enforcement is utilizing migrant groups to physically expel others from the country’s border with Turkey, supported by extensive documentation. Internal records indicate that senior officers directed and supervised the recruitment of these so-called mercenaries, according to the findings. These actions have reportedly involved migrants being stripped, robbed, beaten, and subjected to sexual assault, with testimonies from witnesses detailing the severity of the situation.

Collaborative Inquiry and Evidence

The BBC’s probe, conducted alongside the Consolidated Rescue Group (CRG), began last autumn after receiving video footage allegedly depicting mistreatment of migrants by armed individuals. This footage, shared by a smuggler disillusioned with his network, has not been independently verified but aligns with accounts from other sources. Combined with statements from migrants, former mercenaries, and leaked transcripts, the evidence paints a picture of organized efforts to repel arrivals along the 200km-long Evros River border, which separates Greece from Turkish East Thrace.

Border Dynamics and Legal Concerns

Refugees and asylum seekers entering Greece via the Evros region are directed into a heavily fortified zone with surveillance towers. A local police source confirmed that mercenaries are used to return up to hundreds of people weekly, with many officers acknowledging the practice. These mercenaries, recruited from countries like Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan, are reportedly incentivized with cash, stolen phones, and documents enabling entry into Greece.

“There is no police officer or Frontex agent in Evros who does not know pushbacks are happening,”

the source stated.

Incident and Frontex Report

Footage from June 22, 2023, showed a group of migrants ambushed by masked individuals after crossing into Evros. A Frontex-backed report identified between 10 and 20 third-country nationals as operating under Greek officers’ guidance, subjecting migrants to verbal abuse, sexualized body searches, and physical harm. The incident violated EU human rights law, as migrants were forcibly transported back to Turkey without due process.

Denials and Ongoing Concerns

Greek authorities have dismissed claims of migrants being present in the area on that day. However, the Greek human rights commission (GNCHR) warns that the evidence could represent a “extremely significant” breach of rights. The organization has documented over 100 alleged forced returns in Evros since 2020, with recent cases reported as late as October 2025. Despite declines in some incidents, non-Greek nationals continue to play a role in these pushbacks.

“I was totally unaware of the allegations,”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece’s prime minister, told the BBC in March. He emphasized the country’s border protection efforts, stating European leaders had resolved not to repeat past mistakes by allowing large-scale migration flows.