Frontex and Europol are reporting rising numbers of third country nationals – including Mideast war refugees – with forged passports and IDs attempting to reach European airports aboard flights emanating from Greece. The issue emerged on the forefront late last month with reports of strict “non-Schengen” border checks at German airports for passengers arriving from Greece.
According to a report by Bild on Friday, both European law enforcement bodies have recorded a “significant increase” in the number of people trying to fly out of Greece with bogus travel documents.
In terms of figures, Bild cites 429 instances of passengers from Greece intercepted at European airports with forged passports in the first three months of the year, a figure that reached 729 in the second quarter.
The preferred destinations are Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium, while most of the individuals intercepted came from Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Albania and Eritrea.
Bild reports that Syrians mostly use Greek or Italian IDs, or German and Syrian passports. On the other hand, most Afghans attempting to illegally enter another European country carrying fake French and South Korean passports.
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Jon Rawlinson License: CC-BY-SA
Source: naftemporiki.gr
