NCJ Number
206389
Date Published
February 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper documents the increasing involvement of organized criminal groups in human smuggling and trafficking.
Abstract
Many illegal immigrants voluntarily leave their countries in search of a better life in countries portrayed on television as having a higher quality of life or where relatives live better lives. On the other hand, many immigrants are taken from their homes and villages by force and deception. Many are then exploited, either under the direct threat of violence or to pay their alleged smuggling fees. Some are forced into prostitution, and others work long hours in "sweatshops," factories, and private homes. Currently, smuggling organizations play a leading role in illegal immigration and trafficking in persons, as they supplement their traditional criminal activities with alien smuggling. These organizations are attracted to trafficking and smuggling by the huge profits and relatively low risk of detection, arrest, and prosecution. Reports to Interpol by its member countries indicate an increasing sophistication in the smuggling of persons. Chinese and Albanian criminal groups have linked with Eastern European organized crime groups to facilitate the transportation of immigrants through Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, or Hungary. Trafficking in persons is thus becoming a highly organized and increasingly lucrative criminal activity that is being promoted by transnational organized crime groups.