We were three persons. The ship arrived at the port of Venice and the truck disembarked. It parked somewhere inside the port, for about 6 ½ hours, I think. It had been around 12pm when the ship left from Patras. A 48hours journey, I think. Upon arrival, I could not wait anymore. I could not breathe. So I started knocking. The truck driver heard the sound and opened the truck. The Italian officers gave us some water and then handcuffed us. We were taken to the police station, inside the port, we were fingerprinted and they took photos of us. They detained us there for about an hour. Then they took us back on the ship. The Italian officers asked us if we had paid the truck driver to bring us to Italy. We denied. They did not ask us whether we wanted to apply for asylum or if we wanted to stay in Italy. Back on the ship, they kept us in a room full of handwritten graffiti - names, dates and some other stuff. They gave us some food and water and we were allowed to go to the bathroom. Upon arrival, they took us to the old port, where we stayed for five hours. Then they let us go.” A. (17), from Morocco61 / Venice - Patras “It was last month. I managed to hide inside the Minoan Lines, at the port of Patras. The ship was going to Venice. I was for thirty-six hours in the ship. Upon arrival at the port of Venice, the police arrested me. I was taken to the police station in the port. They searched our clothing. There was an interpreter from Iraq. He asked me how old I was. I told him I was 17 years old. I gave them all the details. They took photos of me. Then they asked me how long I have been in Greece, how I came to Italy, from which port I left, how I lived in Greece… I was sent back to Greece on the same ship. We were seven persons.” J., from Eritrea62 / Venice – Patra “I left my country because my life was in danger, for political reasons. I had been tortured there. Ever since I left, I have health problems. I have only one 60 kidney. Since I arrived in Greece, I am homeless. I Q., from Afghanistan / Venice – Patra was homeless in Igoumenitsa and I am homeless in Patras, trying to survive. I have lodged an asylum application in Igoumenitsa, but it was rejected. The “I was readmitted back to Patras from Venice, appeal is still pending. two days ago. I was alone. A member of the crew found me before the truck could disembark. I was I’m trying to leave this country. I managed to enter brought to the police station. An interpreter asked a ship twice. Both of the times I was deported back me some questions. He did not introduce himself to Greece. Last time, it was in August 2011. I was to me. He just told me he was an interpreter. Then in Patras. I hid in the ANEK Lines ship and arrived he translated the questions of the police officers: at the port of Venice. I got out of the truck. It was Where I came from, if I came from Patras and standing at the parking lot of the port. I tried to run where I planned to go. They asked me: “Sweden? away. The Italian officers caught me, while I was still Norway?” I did not want to return to Greece. They inside the port. They searched me and just asked: forced me back to the ship and locked me into “Are you Somali?” I replied: “No, I’m Eritrean”. They one room. Then they gave me something to eat, insisted. “Somali.” They did not ask me anything but nothing to drink. I drank water from the toilet. else. Not even my name. I tried to tell them that When I arrived to Patras, I was held for one night I need protection, that I am a refugee and that I in the old port of Patras. I was then taken to the do not want to be sent back to Greece. They could police station of Patras and sent to Athens.” not understand me. I could not understand them. We tried to communicate with gestures. I saw the Italians speaking with the captain of the ship. It seemed as if the captain first refused to take me back, but finally he agreed. I was deported back to Greece with the same ship.” 61 60 24 Interview held on May 11, 2012 in Patras 62 itsa Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras Interview held on May 13, 2012 in Patras. See also Bari- Igoumen-