Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre: One year on

The increasing involvement of organised criminal networks in facilitating illegal immigration in recent times called for an enhanced and coordinated response from European law enforcement agencies. Europol was tasked with strengthening its capabilities and launched the European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) in February 2016. During the first year, the EMSC’s 45 migrant smuggling specialists and analysts comprehensively supported European police and border control authorities in coordinating highly complex cross-border anti-smuggling operations. The centre focuses on geographical criminal hotspots, and on building a better capability across the EU to fight organised people smuggling networks operating in them.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Speech: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the launch of the European Migrant Smuggling Centre http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-remarks-by-commissioner-avramopoulos-at-the-launch-of-the-european-migrant-smuggling-centre/

Europol: About: European Migrant Smuggling Centre - EMSC https://www.europol.europa.eu/about-europol/european-migrant-smuggling-centre-emsc

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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