Athens - Greek officials detained 28 illegal immigrants on Monday, raising the number to more than 1,000 caught trying to enter the country via the Aegean Sea in the past few weeks, reports said.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said the immigrants, including nine children, were discovered trying to sneak into the country overnight near the island of Evia.

Officials arrested three people-smugglers in a US-flagged ship.

Since mid-April, officials have detained a total of 1,012 illegal immigrants, including 51 children, and arrested 43 human smugglers.

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to enter Greece every year, mainly from neighbouring Turkey, the Middle East and Africa. (dpa)