Brussels, 01/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Since European border guards were deployed in Greece, the number of illegal crossings of the border between Greece and Turkey has almost halved, according to the European agency for cooperation at the external borders (Frontex). The figures show that at the end of the month of November, the number of migrants intercepted on the land border between Greece and Turkey was down 43.7% compared to the month of October. Whilst 7,586 people crossed the border illegally in October, this figure was 4,270 in November. Even so, Frontex is not yet claiming a victory. “It is too early to talk about the impact of the Operation” currently being carried out by the Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABIT), said the deputy director of the agency, Gil Arias Fernandez. “While the decrease may also be due to a number of factors, such as seasonal fluctuations, bad weather conditions or other reasons, it is nevertheless significant”, he said. Some 175 European experts have been deployed in Greece under the aegis of Frontex. In addition to patrols deployed along the border, the border guards have assisted the Greek authorities in interviews to determine the nationality of illegal immigrants and gathered information on facilitators, who charge up to $7,500 to bring people from Afghanistan. Since the start of the operation, 13 smugglers from Turkey, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Palestine and Georgia have been arrested. According to Frontex statistics, 41 people died trying to cross the river Evros or the sea in the area of Alexandropouli to reach Greek soil. Nearly 33,000 illegal migrants have been stopped on the Greco-Turkish border since 2 June. Most come from Afghanistan (47%), followed by groups from Algeria (17%), Pakistan (8%), Somalia (7%) and Iraq (5%). Most of them have no wish to remain in Greece, but prefer to travel to other countries of the EU, particularly the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. (B.C./transl.fl)