European Commission – Fact Sheet
Questions and Answers: Smuggling of Migrants in Europe and the EU response
Facts and Figures on the arrivals of migrants in Europe
What is smuggling of migrants?
To enter the EU, irregular migrants often turn to smugglers.
Smuggling of migrants is commonly understood as the intentional organisation or facilitation of the irregular movement of persons across state borders, which is provided in return for financial gain (or other gain) by the migrants to the smugglers. [1] Smuggling of migrants generally takes place with the consent of the person willing to move. However, the act of smuggling itself is often dangerous and violent, forcing people to unsafe and inhumane travelling conditions.