Migrant Smuggling Europol Report 2016

7/24/2019 Migrant Smuggling Europol Report 2016

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Migrant smuggling in the EU

.

February 2016

EUROPOL PUBLIC INFORMATION



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Foreword

Europe has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of irregular migrants arriving

i h Eup Ui i 2014. Th h migy h pviuy

u high i 2015. Thi xpy iig um mig ivig

i h EU i u i 2016.

In 2015, more than one million migrants reached the EU. This development has had a

pu imp Eup imi p. Cimi k hv quiky p

hi vpm uy i hi ivvm i mig muggig.

More than 90% of the migrants travelling to the EU used facilitaon services. In most cases,

h vi pvi y imi gup. A g um imi

networks as well as individual criminal entrepreneurs now generate substanal prots from

migrant smuggling.

Cimi k xpi h p vuiiy mig. Thy

g ii vi uh h pvii p, mm

fraudulent documents at excessively high prices. In many cases, irregular migrants are forced

py h vi y m ig u. Th hi xpi i

uh i i 2016.

I 2015 , imi k ivv i mig muggig m hv h

uv EUR 3 -6 ii. Thi uv i u ip i h

h u mig ii pi i h upmig y.

Mig muggig ihi h EU i highy v ui imi k

h g igiy i 2015. A h gig imi mk i Eup

h gi, hi i u i 2016.

In tackling the sophiscated internaonal and European migrant smuggling networks

gg mu p, m uhi igi hg v

the coming years.

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Table of contents

Foreword 2

1. Migrant smuggling routes to and in the EU 5

Sea routes 5

Land and air routes 5

Sy mvm i h EU 6

Th imi hp 6

2. The criminal networks 7

Nk iiviu imi pu 7

Lik ih ip mmui 10

Social media 10

3. Links to other crimes and terrorism 11

Dum uig 11

Tkig i hum ig 11

Cup 12

Terrorism and violent extremism 12

4. Illicit fnancial ows 13

5. The way forward 13

Eup u ik hk EU MS, p ui, Fx INTERPOL hi iu.

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1IOM

1. Migrant smuggling routes to and in the EU

In 2015, more than one million irregular migrants reached the EU. More than 90% of theseirregular migrants used facilitaon services at some point during their journey. In most

, h vi pvi y mig muggig k. Mig muggig

ihi h EU i kig p up p. I 2015,

h um igu mig ivig i h EU m v m high h

i 2014. I 2016, hi i u: I h v k 2016, m h

84,000 irregular migrants reached the EU.1

Irregular migrants travelling to the EU primarily originate from Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq

as well as from Senegal, Somalia, Niger, Morocco and other African countries. In addion to

these naonalies, there is also a connuous ow of irregular migrants from Asian countries

such as India, Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, albeit to a lesser extent.

Wihi h EU, h p ui h mig Gmy, S

and the United Kingdom.

A mig juy k hm m hi uy igi hugh um i

ui hi vu uy . Mig mugg h imi

oer a wide variety of oen highly priced services throughout this journey. These facilitaon

services include the provision of transportaon, accommodaon and fraudulent documents. In

many cases, irregular migrants are forced to pay for these services by means of illegal labour.

Routes crossing the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas currently see the highest number

igu mig yig h h EU. A igi um muggig k

ii mig m Tuky Nh Ai G Iy.

Sea routes

Th E Mi y u: Cuy, h g um igu mig

arrives in Greece. From there, migrants travel towards their intended desnaons on one of

h i u: ig hugh h W Bk - h EU i C

, m x, vi Hugy, Bugi, Rmi, y Iy.

Th C Mi y u: Iy i i h EU i m h um

igu mig iv. A ivig i h uh Iy, igu mig ypiy

p m Mi h i Nh Eup vi Siz, Aui

Gmy. T h i W Eup, mig v vi F.

Irregular migrants also travel along the Western Mediterranean entry route to enter the EU

in Spain. However, this route is less signicant than the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean

entry routes.

Land and air routes

The Northern route leads irregular migrants to the EU via Russia and then Norway. This route

has been used by an increasing number of migrants since the end of 2015.

F mig v h E y u, hih hm g h Vi B

entering the EU in one of the Member States on the Balc Sea before travelling to desnaon

countries via Poland.

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Mig muggig y i i uy qu mi pi u i iky m

more aracve in the future due to increased controls on the land and sea routes. It is

generally perceived as a safer though more expensive mode of travel which oers high

chances of success. Flights can be booked as part of a full travel package either directly from

h uy igi EU MS vi mup ui hig h .

Migrant smuggling by air typically includes the provision of fraudulent documents.

Secondary movements in the EU

I m , y mvm k mig i ui i

Western and Northern Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium,

Th Nh, Dmk, S.

The criminal hotspots

Smuggling hotspots are located along the main migraon routes and aract migrant smuggling

networks. These hotspots may be favourably located along routes where most migrants travel

or may feature easy access to transport infrastructures used for illegal facilitaon acvies.

In and outside the EU, more than 230 locaons where illegal facilitaon or migrant smuggling

k p hv i. Th mi imi hp mig muggig ui

the EU are Amman, Algiers, Beirut, Benghazi, Cairo, Casablanca, Istanbul, Izmir, Misrata,

Oran, and Tripoli.

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The main criminal hotspots for intra-EU movements include Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Calais,

Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hoek van Holland, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris,Pu, Rm, Skhm, Ti, Thiki, Vi, W, Zugg.

Th hp h migy , pu hv g xpy i

the last years. Migrants gather in hotspots where they know they will have access to services

uig hi v hi p .

During their journeys, migrants oen stop over in urban or semi-urban areas to work illegally

in order to pay their debts to the migrant smugglers or to save money for the next leg of

hi juy.

Transport infrastructure hubs such as internaonal train staons, airports and stops of long

i h ky mig muggig vi i h EU. Th hu

ii h mvm pp u h imi gup

hi vi iuig mm, uu um im

contact points in other countries.

The routes used by irregular migrants will likely further diversify and new hotspots for

mig muggig i mg i p hiig mig .

2. The criminal networks

Networks and individual criminal entrepreneurs

Europol holds intelligence on more than 40 000 individuals suspected of being involved inmigrant smuggling. In 2015 only, informaon on more than 10 000 suspects was shared with

Eup, ug i 1 551 ivg gg k v i h EU. A igi

h h up p p imi k.

Migrant smuggling is an internaonal criminal business. The suspects reported to and

idened by Europol originate from more than 100 countries. The most common naonalies

ui ih h up Bugi, Egyp, Hugy, Iq, Kv2, Pki,

P, Rmi, Si, Syi, Tuii Tuky.

44% of the networks are exclusively composed of non-EU naonals

30% are composed of EU naonals only

26 % are composed of both EU and non-EU naonals

Networks operang in the Scandinavian countries, Belgium and source countries are typically

mp mm h m iy. Th k v i h h EU

m hgu i hi mpi.

13% h up k Eup p i hi uy igi. M h

groups these suspects belong to feature a homogenous composion. Hungarian and Swedish

up m iky i p i hi pv ui igi. Th

up y iv i ky mig hu ui h pvi

ii vi hm.

Some suspects with EU naonality reside in their country of origin, such as Bulgarians,

Rmi P, u pimiy v i h Mm S, hih ypiy

hi uy igi ui uh Gmy,

2 Thi ig i

ihu pjui

pi u,

i i i ih UNSC 1244

and the ICJ Opinion on

h Kv

independence.

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The Netherlands or the United Kingdom. Most of these suspects work as drivers transporng

migrants from Eastern to Western Europe or are members of mobile organised crime groups

kig imi ppui i g mig hu.

Suspects with non-EU naonalies are primarily acve in countries of transit or desnaon.

They oen work as organisers orchestrang migrant smuggling acvies along enre

mig u i h uy . I h , hy

local coordinators and are located in transit countries.

The table below provides an overview of the top 10 naonalies of the suspects, their

ui vi hi ui i.3

Nk vy i iz. Rgi m k p umuy y

h iv, ui, um i gi. I my ,

3 Thi ig i

ihu pjui

pi u,

i i i ih UNSC 1244

and the ICJ Opinion on

h Kv

independence.

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these freelancers provide their services to mulple networks at the same me. Larger

networks typically operate at an internaonal level and oer full facilitaon packages taking

mig m u ui.

Criminal networks are typically composed of several key individuals. The organiser or leader

h k i uuy i ky mig hu i pi h v

coordinaon within the network. The leaders of migrant smuggling networks usually operate

my y mii ih imi um mm.

L gi h pi ii vi, , k igh

h y u h i vi. Th i h h m

pg v pi uig v h vi

pvi ihi hi iy h mig yig hi vi h

the next associate along the route. The tasks of these local cells vary depending on the

complexity of the network they belong to. The services they provide include buying or

g vhi, ivig u , uig ig iv. Th gphi

pvi ypgy h ky iiviu pg mig muggig k .

A i-ph yi v k v h muggig k p

based on a crime-as-a-service business model. Criminal experts in document fraud or

recruitment oen work for several migrant smuggling networks at the same me. The graphs

below show an overview of dierent networks acve in the EU and the roles of the suspects.

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Mm mig muggig k ypiy k umuy ih um

-v h p hi p k. L-v u

iv, mm, u, uig g. Th ypiy p p k y imi m xhg guy. Mig muggig

networks are exible and adapt to changing business demands by relying on auxiliary

members as necessary. These auxiliary members act as money handlers, guarantors or

forgers. These individuals provide services to the network, but do not form part of networks

core memberships.

Th mpxiy k i mi y h gh h g ik ivv

i h u hy vi h yp ii vi y hm. F

i, i v uuy qui h pvii v um i h

involvement of forgers and guides.

Links with diaspora communiesMigrant smuggling networks in source or transit countries exploit ethnic and naonal es to

ip mmui h EU. Fii igu mig h pu

desnaon countries where they will nd exisng communies with which they share naonal,

igui uu . Eih ip mmui i h ui

support networks and opportunies for irregular migrants to prolong their irregular stay in the

EU. Members of diaspora communies that are part of migrant smuggling networks provide

upp i gig mm, v mpym h k u mk.

Th vg g mig mugg i 2015 i 36 y. Mig mugg m

Syria, Pakistan and Iraq tend to be signicantly younger than smugglers from Western Balkan

ui EU Mm S. Mm Rmi k h yug mg

h k mp EU . Th g up p h hy py ihi mig muggig k. Rmi up i h y

typically acted as drivers. Iraqi, Syrian and Afghani suspects tend to be young irregular

migrants themselves and are involved in arranging the facilitaon services for fellow naonals.

Social media

Some migrant smugglers rely on social media to adverse their services. A migrant smugglers

p hi i mi pg v h ig vi:

The cost of a package with travel from Turkey to Libya by air and onward sea journey from

Libya to Italy costs USD 3,700. For the sea journey adults cost USD 1,000. Three children

cost USD 500.

Within the EU, migrant smuggling networks also use social media plaorms to recruit drivers.

These plaorms are also used by migrant smugglers and irregular migrants to share informaon

on developments along migraon routes, including law enforcement acvies, changes

in asylum procedures, or unfavourable condions in countries of desnaon. This type

of informaon allows other migrant smugglers to adapt to changing condions. Migrant

smugglers adopt their pricing models in response to developments such as increased border

y hgig high pi v u.

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3. Links to other crimes and terrorism

Some of the suspects involved in migrant smuggling are also involved in other types of crimesuch as drug tracking, document forgery, property crime and tracking in human beings.

Suspects acng as drivers for migrant smuggling networks were typically previously involved

in property crime or drug tracking within the EU. In the case of tracking in human beings

a signicant link can be made to labour exploitaon or sham marriages or marriages of

convenience. In 2015, of the suspected migrant smugglers linked to other types of crime, 22%

were linked to drug tracking, 20% to tracking in human beings and 20% to property crime.

Document counterfeing

Th h up ik h gy um i igiy

2014 2015. Thi i ii h um uig i iig i h

EU. The false documents used by irregular migrants originate mainly from Athens, Istanbul

and Syria as well as Asian hubs such as Thailand. Migrants are provided with false documents

h hi juy hy iv hm uig hi juy i m p

y ii i ui.

An invesgaon led to the discovery of a state-of-the-art counterfeing print shop in Albania,

with equipment worth millions of Dollars. The main suspect, who was running the print shop,received orders from migrant smuggling networks to produce false documents on order. The

documents were sent via small parcels and couriers. These high-quality documents were

provided to irregular migrants in Greece in order to facilitate their further travel into the EU.

The suspect cooperated closely with criminal networks in Bulgaria and Turkey. A search of

the print shop led to the seizure of thousands of blank visa documents, residence permits, ID

cards, security gelanes, passports and driving licenses for various EU countries. Europol (2015)

Tracking in human beings

I Juy 2016, 55% h igu mig ivig i h EU m mi.

Thi p i 34% mp 2015.4

A considerable share of the minors arriving in the EU is unaccompanied. These unaccompanied

minors travel to and within the EU without a responsible adult. In 2015, 85 482 unaccompanied

4 UNHCR, 20/01/2016.

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minors applied for asylum in the EU. Thi um i h m high h i 2014. 50%

h umpi mi Agh 13% h Syi iy.

I my EU Mm S, umpi mi ipp m yum p

centres. In 2015, several networks involved both in migrant smuggling and labour exploitaon

were dismantled in the EU. The group of people vulnerable for labour or sexual exploitaon is

increasing, it is expected that these types of exploitaon will increase in the upcoming years.

An invesgaon into a Pakistani criminal network involved in the smuggling of Pakistani

migrants to the EU revealed that the groups acvies were linked to labour exploitaon.

Upon arrival in the EU, the irregular migrants facilitated by this network were forced to work

in restaurants owned by members of the criminal network in Spain.

CorruponCup i ky iig mig muggig. Cup i u v

g g h mig juy. I ypi up, m

iv i vhi p hugh -ig pi uhk. Oh

instances involve naval or military ocers who receive payments for every migrant or

hip hy . Cu my g y imi upp

immig ppi pvi vi pp.

Terrorism and violent extremism

The increased ow of migrants trying to reach the EU has raised concerns that migrant

smuggling routes and networks are used to inltrate potenal terrorists (e.g. foreign ghters)

i h EU. Th h i gi y mig muggigas a source of funding.

I 2015, EU m uhi i m i ivvig h u

migraon routes by terrorist actors. The majority of these incidents involved Syrian naonals

or naonals of other Middle Eastern or North African countries. Two of the suspected

perpetrators of the Paris aacks on 13 November 2016 travelled to the EU disguised as

irregular migrants.

Members of terrorist groups or returning foreign fighters with EU nationality

generally rely on genuine and fraudulent documents to travel to the EU and typically

do not rely on the facilitation services offered by migrant smuggling networks.

2015 h igi i i h um vi k gg mig i

yum h mm. A igi um k mig

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pui i ii p i Aui, Bugi, Gmy,

Denmark, Finland Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Greece, Latvia,

h Nh, P, Spi, h Ui Kigm. I i i u mig ii, my p -p gi y igh-ig

-ig xmi gup, mm ig h mg p.

4. Illicit nancial ows

Migrant smuggling is a highly protable business. In most cases, migrant smuggling services

qui imi ivm y h k ivv i pi high m.

A rough estimate of the yearly turnover

of migrant smuggling can be produced by

multiplying the approximate number of

irregular migrants reaching the EU, most of

hm ii, ih h vg

h ii vi pvi y mig

smuggling networks. Overall, the esmated

criminal turnover associated with migrant

smuggling to and within the EU is between EUR

3 - 6 ii 2015 .

There is only limited intelligence available on

the criminal proceeds, illicit nancial ows or

money laundering processes associated with

mig muggig vi.

In 2015, less than 10% of the invesgaons into migrant smuggling acvies produced

iig upiiu my uig vi.

5. The way forward

90% h mig ivig i h EU u ii vi m pi uig hi

journey. In most cases, these services are provided by migrant smuggling networks. Criminals

are set to connue to exploit the migraon crisis oering facilitaon services and expanding

hi k mig mugg i. Th imi k xpi

vu mig p u xu xpi u hm

many other types of crime. The scale of this exploitaon is expected to increase signicantlyv h mig y u iiv i k.

As the European law enforcement agency, Europol plays an essenal role in supporng

h Mm S i kig h ihy i yp gi im

pg Eup iz. I p h g h imi vi

associated with migraon crisis, Europol has made migrant smuggling one of its key priories.

Europol has a posive track-record in tackling cross-border crime and providing EU Member

S p p ih phi pm h xhg imi

intelligence and the coordinaon of joint operaonal acons targeng the most serious

types of organised crime.

The European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) builds on the experience and experse

i uppg - ivg i h mig muggig h

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forms of serious and organised, cybercrime and terrorism accumulated at Europol over the

last decades.

The EMSC will proacvely support EU Member States and their operaonal partners in

gg imig mpx phi imi k ivv i mig

smuggling.

Given the scale of migrant smuggling, and its centrality to the migraon challenge as a whole,

leveraging a greater law enforcement response through EMSC is crical to the EUs migraon

gy. Su p, hv, h g i ggm Mm

States and other partners through enhanced informaon sharing and operaonal cooperaon.

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Documents

Migrant Smuggling Europol Report 2016