European Migrant Smuggling Centre 6th Annual Report – 2022

The facilitation of illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings continue to be among the most serious criminal threats facing the European Union. Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented travel restrictions, criminal networks active in these crime areas have continued to thrive, displaying a high degree of adaptability. New emerging routes, new technologies and new modus operandi have forced law enforcement agencies to be better prepared and more vigilant than ever.

Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre plays a pivotal role in tackling these crimes, in collaboration with Member States and external partners. In its sixth annual report, the European Migrant Smuggling Centre provides an overview of recent activities and outlines recommendations for the ways in which Europol can bolster Europe’s security and help Member States effectively combat organised crime.

Cite this publication: Europol (2022), European Migrant Smuggling Centre - 6th Annual Report, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.