Immigrant smuggling control along the Silk Migration Route

ended

The objective of the ISF project is to control organized migrant-smuggling networks in view of the high migration figures along the Silk Route, more specifically in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, and further in the Eastern Mediterranean. Geographically speaking, Iran plays a key role in the fight against illegal immigration, followed by Afghanistan and Pakistan. From Turkey the migrants are smuggled along the Balkan route to Europe. While Austria and Germany are primary target countries, Bulgaria is one of the main transit countries. The criminal groups operating there cannot be effectively and sustainably controlled unless through intense co-operation and data exchange between the countries concerned. To this end, professional co-operation in pertinent investigations must be strengthened both at strategic and at operational level. In the first instance, it will be necessary to build up confidence in operations with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran as well as Turkey and to gauge the extent to which constructive co-operation is possible and the hierarchy levels that are best suited to this purpose. Its neutrality status places Austria in an advantageous position for gaining acceptance in the above-mentioned third countries. The identification of offender networks in the countries of origin and the analysis of the intelligence obtained in their respect make it possible to quickly exchange information, especially through the JOINT OPERATIONAL OFFICE in Vienna, and to take appropriate action for combating criminal smuggling networks. The involvement of Europol through its European Migrant Smuggling Center (EMSC), of Interpol and of Eurojust will speed up repressive action against international facilitating networks.