Greece's coast guard says nearly 12,000 immigrants were arrested entering the country illegally last month — an almost seven-fold increase from the previous year.
The agency said Wednesday that 11,873 people were arrested in April and 6,583 were arrested in March — nearly all on islands facing the coast of Turkey.
Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, on a visit to Athens Tuesday, said he would back a European Union relocation plan to assist Greece and Italy.
Greece's government has welcomed the plan but is seeking a higher quota, to help it cope with large numbers of arriving from war-torn Syria.
According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year.
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