Leaked Audio Raises New Questions About Greek Coastguard’s Role in Deadly Shipwreck

Recently leaked audio recordings have cast fresh doubts on the Greek government’s account of one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. The recordings suggest that Greek rescue coordinators instructed the migrant boat’s captain to declare that those onboard did not want to be taken to Greece—contradicting the official narrative.

A Tragedy in Greek Waters

The overcrowded fishing boat, Adriana, sank in international waters but within Greece’s rescue zone on June 14, 2023. Up to 750 migrants were onboard when the vessel departed from Libya. Only 82 bodies were recovered, while an estimated 500 people, including 100 women and children, are presumed to have drowned.

Survivors have previously accused the Greek coastguard of causing the boat to capsize during a failed towing attempt and then forcing witnesses to stay silent. The Greek coastguard has denied these claims, insisting that those onboard were heading voluntarily to Italy and were not in distress.

Leaked Audio Raises New Questions

In recordings published by the Greek news website News247.gr, an unnamed officer from the Greek Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) can be heard telling the migrant boat’s captain to inform an approaching supply vessel that the migrants did not wish to reach Greece.

Officer 1 (18:50 local time, June 13, 2023):
“The boat proceeding to you will give you fuel, water, and food. In one hour, we will send a second boat. Tell the captain of the big red ship, ‘We don’t want to go to Greece.’”

In a later call at 22:10, a different officer from the same centre speaks to the captain of Lucky Sailor, a vessel that provided aid to the migrant boat.

Lucky Sailor captain:
“I asked them by megaphone, ‘Greece or Italy?’ and everybody there screamed ‘Italy’.”

The Greek coastguard has not commented on the recordings but claims to have submitted all available evidence to the Maritime Court Prosecutor’s Office.

Accusations of a Cover-Up

Human rights groups and legal experts argue that the leaked recordings reinforce concerns that Greek authorities tried to cover up their role in the disaster.

Dimitris Choulis, a human rights lawyer representing survivors, stated:
“From day one, there was an attempt to hide the truth. They [Greek authorities] claimed the migrants did not want to be rescued, which insults the memory of hundreds who died.”

A BBC investigation had previously challenged Greece’s account, showing that the migrant vessel had remained stationary for at least seven hours before capsizing—contradicting the coastguard’s claim that it was moving toward Italy.

Legal Battles and International Scrutiny

Last year, a Greek court dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing the shipwreck, citing lack of jurisdiction as the tragedy occurred in international waters. Evidence used to prosecute them was contradicted by multiple survivors, who alleged they were coerced into blaming the Egyptians.

International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called for an independent investigation, arguing that Greek authorities cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.

Meanwhile, the Greek Ombudsman and the Greek Naval Court continue their inquiries into the disaster, but families of the victims and human rights advocates remain skeptical about whether justice will be served.