SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS Ambassador Dr Uglješa Ugi Zvekić* Based on “ Survive and Advance: The economics of smuggling migrants and refugees to Europe” by Tuesday Reitano and Peter Tinti, ISS Paper 289/November 2015.

Why Smuggling? Violent conflicts, long-term repressive policies, unemployment, chronic poverty, inequality, corruption, lack of opportunity and aspirations for the better No global or regional strategy and means to respond Highly responsive SMUGGLING industry

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History of “routes” and roots” Neither the ROUTES – nor the roots – of the contemporary migration are new; these were craved long time ago

ROUTES The Mediterranean (2016: 181.436) The Aegean (2016: 173.561) East, West and Horn of Africa Via Lybia and Egypt ITALY The Aegean (2016: 173.561) Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan Via Turkey Greece Balkans GERMANY, AUSTRIA; SCANDINAVIA

The Meditteranean Egypt (decreased) Syria, Eritrea, Somalia to ITALY Lybia (increased) Mali, Chad, Niger, Nigeria to ITALY Marocco to SPAIN Most dangerous; long earth and sea crossing

The Aegean/Balkans Syria Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey Greece The Balkans (Macedonia; Serbia; Croatia; Bulgaria; Romania) Hungary Germany, Austria, Scandinavia

North America/Australia USA Colombia; Quatemala, Honduras; Il Salvador; Ecuador, Haiti and MEXICO USA and Canada Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia; Laos, China Australia Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar

AFRICA Kenya: from Somalia Egypt: Syria, Eritrea Lybia: Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria

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Smugglers “know-how” Specialized knowledge of: routes equipment local community law enforcement community Corruption Counterfeiting contacts with receivers on the “other side” diaspora informal economy “rules and regulations”

Smugglers ring in Turkey Izmir and Bodrun Collectors: from migrant community Insurance/ third party: control over money No high level organized crime Mid-level organized crime: procurement of contacts and boats Low-level organized crime: men on the beaches arranging human cargo Petty criminals: e.g sim cards Ordinary citizens: life jackets; restaurants; hotels; taxi

Criminalization of migrants Along the journey exposed to violence by other migrants from the same ethnic group, from another ethnic group or local bandits Robbed and extortion by service providers of transport, lodging and border crossing Bribery chain: from collectors through law- level criminals to border control officials and accommodation officials Corruption: within the illicit and licit spheres Criminalized by the transit and/or recipient country officials

Just a wave or a Trend ? USA: from Mexico USA/Canada: from Asia Europe: from conflict zones; from ex- colonies Europe: wars and the Arab Spring Europe: the role of diaspora-a perennial facilitator for legal and illegal migration

RESPONSE Law Enforcement and Military Walls: USA, Hungary; Austria; Bulgaria; France Deportation Islands: Australia EU: no strategy but Turkey (6 Billion EURO) Lybia Defiance of human rights; no investments Criminilizaton/Corruption

BEYOND DEFENSE Security – exclusive strategy: cjs and military Smuggling markets Slow asylum requests procedure EU/Australia: illegal migrants vs legal asylum seekers Only war-torn but not poverty-stricken Yet, neither peace-building nor economic development

Vested Interests Effects of migration: On recipient country/region: economy and demographics On source country: Remittances (in some countries - West Africat -the second largest foreing-based investment) officilas participating in the corruption chain have no interest to implement anti-smuggling policies Smugglers – choose other criminal options Managing migration