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: [email protected] Tel.: (+43) 1 26060 0 The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or poli- cies 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 expres- sion 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 border controls, while misinforming migrants about the from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime conditions. (UNODC). Our research also highlights potential avenues for strength- Every year, thousands of migrants and refugees, desper- ening measures against migrant smuggling. This includes ately seeking to escape violence, conflict and dire eco- raising awareness of the dangers posed by smugglers in nomic straits, die on perilous journeys by land, sea or air, destination countries. It may also include promoting often at the hands of criminal smugglers. Concerted, alternative livelihoods for the lowest-level smugglers, who comprehensive action to counter this crime and protect may be engaging in criminal activities out of the same people is needed. desperation driving smuggled migrants to enlist their services. This research represents a start towards developing a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the crime of At the same time, improved international cooperation and migrant smuggling and its terrible toll. Complementing law enforcement capacities are needed to go after the large- UNODC’s existing support to Member States, it can help scale criminal organizations that are pulling the strings. to inform effective criminal justice responses, and con- This study offers insight into the complexity of the smug- tribute to continuing efforts towards the Global Compact gling phenomenon, while also showing how much more on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. information is needed. A global data collection system can Based on an extensive review of existing data and litera- strengthen the evidence base, and help the international ture, the study presents a detailed account of the nature community to come to grips with migrant smuggling. and scale of migrant smuggling. It focuses on major smug- We have a solid basis for such cooperative responses. More gling routes connecting origin, transit, and destination than three-quarters of all Member States are party to the points; the modus operandi of smugglers; the risks the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol under the United Nations journeys pose for migrants and refugees; and the profile Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. of smugglers and the vulnerable groups on which they Going forward, better use of this framework is needed to prey. find solutions to these shared challenges. 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 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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Major land, sea and air smuggling transits and destinations discussed in this study* 0 1,000 2,000 km Air Sea Land TheThe designations designations employed employed and the and presentation the presentation of material on of this material map do not on imply this the map expression do not of any imply opinion the whatsoever expression on the of part any of opinionthe Secretariat whatsoever of the United on the 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. Dotted line represents partapproximately of the Secretariat the Line of Control of the in UnitedJammu and Nations Kashmir concerningagreed upon by the India legal and Pakistan. status Theof finalany status country, of Jammu territory, and Kashmir city hasor areanot yet or been of agreedits authorities, upon by the parties.or con - cerningFinal boundary the delimitation between the Republic of its frontiersof Sudan and or the boundaries. Republic of South Dotted Sudan line has notrepresents yet been determined. approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined. * The map is not intended to give a comprehensive overview of all migrant smuggling activity or the magnitude of smuggling taking place in the identified locations. Migrants are smuggled in all countries (some US$6 billion) spent on humanitarian aid regions of the world globally in 2016. This is a minimum figure as it represents only the known portion of this crime. These findings, and Smuggling of migrants affects all regions of the world. the considerable information gaps on smuggling of Different areas are affected to varying degrees. This Study migrants, will be discussed in chapter 1. describes some 30 smuggling routes, from internal African The smugglers’ profits stem from the fees they charge routes towards North and Southern Africa, to Asian routes migrants for their services. The fees are largely determined towards Europe and the Middle East, or to wealthier coun- by the distance of the smuggling trajectory, number of tries in South-East Asia and the Pacific. From the Medi- border crossings, geographic conditions, means of trans- terranean sea routes, to land routes between Latin America port, the use of fraudulent travel or identity documents, and North America; and from the myriad air passages risk of detection and others. The fees are not fixed, and usually undertaken with counterfeit or fraudulently may change according to the migrants’ profiles and their obtained documents, to hazardous overland journeys perceived wealth. For example, Syrian citizens are often across deserts and mountains. charged more than many other migrants for smuggling Smuggling of migrants is a big along the Mediterranean routes (an extra charge that may business with high profits or may not lead to a safer or more comfortable journey). Supply and demand There is evidence that, at a minimum, 2.5 million migrants were smuggled for an economic return of US$5.5-7 billion Smuggling of migrants follows the same dynamics of other in 2016. This is equivalent to what the United States of transnational organized crime markets. It is driven by a America (some US$7 billion) or the European Union demand and a supply of smuggling services to circumvent 5 2018 Factors determining the Services supplied demand for smuggling by smugglers SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS Need to migrate due to armed Transportation, guiding and GLOBAL STUDY ON conflict, persecution, socio-economic escorting during irregular hardship or other reasons border crossing Mobility regulations and restrictions Accommodation along the route Expensive and lengthy procedures Planning and contacts along to obtain regular travel documents the route Marketing and misinformation Information and corruption by smugglers Travel documents (counterfeit, Smugglers’ recruitment and false, fraudulently obtained, community pressure etc.) existing regulations.