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

Greek Police Employing Migrants as Mercenaries for Border Pushbacks

Internal Evidence Reveals Systematic Use of Migrants in Forced Returns

According to recent discoveries by the BBC, Greek law enforcement has been recruiting migrants to act as unregistered operatives who physically expel others back across the land border with Turkey. This practice is supported by a collection of internal police records, which detail how senior officers authorized and supervised the hiring of these individuals. The documents reveal a coordinated effort to use migrants as agents of removal, often under the guise of security operations.

Witness accounts and video footage indicate that migrants are subjected to harsh treatment, including being stripped of clothing, robbed, beaten, and in some cases, sexually assaulted. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of brutality, with claims that forced returns have been occurring since at least 2020. Despite this, the Greek prime minister stated in a March interview that he was “totally unaware” of the allegations, while authorities have yet to formally address detailed BBC inquiries.

Operatives and Their Motivations

The BBC’s investigation, conducted in partnership with the Consolidated Rescue Group, uncovered that these mercenaries are themselves migrants from countries such as Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan. They are reportedly incentivized with cash, mobile devices taken from others, and documents that facilitate movement through Greece. This system allows for a cycle of exploitation, where migrants are both victims and tools in the process.

In one documented case from June 2023, a group of migrants crossing into Evros, a region bordering Turkey, was ambushed by masked individuals. The incident was captured on video and later analyzed by Frontex’s Fundamental Rights Office. The report concluded that between 10 and 20 non-EU nationals were acting under Greek officers’ direction, subjecting migrants to threats, body searches, and physical abuse before forcing them back across the border.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

Pushbacks, defined as the forced deportation of asylum seekers without proper legal procedures, are typically deemed unlawful under international law. The practice has been widely reported, including by the Netherlands-based Lighthouse Reports in 2022. Greek authorities have denied the presence of these migrants on the border during the June 2023 incident, though independent sources continue to highlight the ongoing issue.

Maria Gavouneli, head of Greece’s human rights commission, calls the findings “extremely significant,” noting over 100 alleged forced returns in Evros since 2020. While cases have reportedly decreased, recent incidents in October 2025 suggest the problem persists. The prime minister emphasized Greece’s role in protecting borders, arguing European leaders are committed to avoiding past mistakes of uncontrolled migration flows.

“There is no officer in Evros who does not know pushbacks are happening,” a local police source told the BBC.

Frontex’s Response and Ongoing Dispute

Frontex, the EU’s border agency, has dismissed claims of systematic abuse, though its own reports have noted instances of forced returns involving foreign nationals. The agency’s findings align with the BBC’s evidence, raising questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. As the crisis continues, the role of migrants in these operations remains a contentious issue, with authorities struggling to reconcile their statements with the growing body of evidence.