Mid-September brought a surge of arrivals: roughly 800 asylum seekers reached Greek shores, followed by several hundred more over September 22nd–23rd. The influx casts doubt on earlier claims that asylum flows from North Africa had been effectively restrained. In August, the tally had fallen to 689 from 3,624 in July, most of those earlier arrivals coming before Athens halted asylum processing for boat landings. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris presented the August figures as a sign of success, but the recent surge complicates that narrative.

Those arriving are rescued at sea, temporarily disembarked on Gavdos, a small island south of Crete, and then moved to a makeshift holding site in Chania. Within days, most are sent to larger mainland camps. Greek authorities suspect eastern Libyan officials could intervene to curb departures but instead allow them, likely profiting along the way.