GLOBAL STUDY ON SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS 2018

Global overview I

GLOBAL STUDY ON

SMUGGLING

OF MIGRANTS

2018

1

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME Vienna

Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants

2018

UNITED NATIONS

New York, 2018

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.

Suggested citation: UNODC, Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants 2018 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.18.IV.9).

Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to:

Crime Research Section Research and Trend Analysis Branch Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime P.O. Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria E-mail: unodc-globaltipreport@ Tel.: (+43) 1 26060 0

The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC, Member States or contributory organizations, and nor does it imply any endorsement.

This document has not been formally edited. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

? United Nations, June 2018. All rights reserved, worldwide.

UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.18.IV.9 ISBN: 978-92-1-130350-6 e-ISBN: 978-92-1-045181-9

PREFACE

This is the first Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Every year, thousands of migrants and refugees, desperately seeking to escape violence, conflict and dire economic straits, die on perilous journeys by land, sea or air, often at the hands of criminal smugglers. Concerted, comprehensive action to counter this crime and protect people is needed.

This research represents a start towards developing a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the crime of migrant smuggling and its terrible toll. Complementing UNODC's existing support to Member States, it can help to inform effective criminal justice responses, and contribute to continuing efforts towards the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Based on an extensive review of existing data and literature, the study presents a detailed account of the nature and scale of migrant smuggling. It focuses on major smuggling routes connecting origin, transit, and destination points; the modus operandi of smugglers; the risks the journeys pose for migrants and refugees; and the profile of smugglers and the vulnerable groups on which they prey.

The global study shines a light on patterns, while making clear that there is never a one-size-fits-all explanation. What stands out is the bitter realization that smugglers are developing ever-more sophisticated organizational capacities, and using more dangerous routes to circumvent

border controls, while misinforming migrants about the conditions.

Our research also highlights potential avenues for strengthening measures against migrant smuggling. This includes raising awareness of the dangers posed by smugglers in destination countries. It may also include promoting alternative livelihoods for the lowest-level smugglers, who may be engaging in criminal activities out of the same desperation driving smuggled migrants to enlist their services.

At the same time, improved international cooperation and law enforcement capacities are needed to go after the largescale criminal organizations that are pulling the strings.

This study offers insight into the complexity of the smuggling phenomenon, while also showing how much more information is needed. A global data collection system can strengthen the evidence base, and help the international community to come to grips with migrant smuggling.

We have a solid basis for such cooperative responses. More than three-quarters of all Member States are party to the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Going forward, better use of this framework is needed to find solutions to these shared challenges.

1

Acknowledgements

The Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants 2018 was prepared by the UNODC Crime Research Section under the supervision of Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs and Angela Me, Chief of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch.

Core Teams General coordination and content overview Kristiina Kangaspunta and Angela Me

Information gathering, analysis and drafting Fabrizio Sarrica (coordination and global analysis), Raggie Johansen (coordination and regional analyses), Tejal Jesrani (East and South-East Asia), Cecilia Manzotti (Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South and South-West Asia) and Gabriella Sanchez (the Americas).

Graphic design, layout and mapping Suzanne Kunnen, Kristina Kuttnig and Martin Fehrer.

The Crime Research Section wishes to thank the Section's interns, Julia Litzkow, Gamze Subasi, Nadine L. Salman, Jennifer Vallentine and Michela del Buono who have all made solid contributions to the Global Study.

Review and comments The Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants 2018 benefited from the expertise and invaluable contributions of the UNODC colleagues in the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section and from the many colleagues at various UNODC Field Offices. Valuable inputs were also received from Ted Leggett and Jesper Samson of the Crime Research Section.

UNODC wishes to thank the artist Yasser Rezahi who generously donated the artwork used for this Study.

Photos of artwork by Johannes Kittel.

Infographs contain pictograms from Leremy/Shutterstock.

CONTENTS

Executive summary

5

CHAPTER I - GLOBAL OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

17

GLOBAL PICTURE OF SMUGGLING ROUTES

22

THE SMUGGLED MIGRANTS

32

THE SMUGGLERS

43

THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS SMUGGLED

54

CHAPTER II - REGIONAL OVERVIEWS

AFRICA

71

THE AMERICAS

93

ASIA

109

EUROPE

143

3

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download