This publication, entitled "Tackling threat, addressing challenges - Europol's response to migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings in 2023 and onwards", looks into the latest developments and main threats in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (THB) based on the most recent operations supported by Europol. It highlights the main challenges presented by the current criminal landscape and aims to help law enforcement step up the fight against criminal networks.

The Presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to enhance Europol’s role in supporting Member States against migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The deal focuses on improving information sharing and operational coordination at EU level. A European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling will be established within Europol. The agreement must still be formally approved by both the Council and the European Parliament.

On 13 May 2025, Belgian authorities arrested six individuals in West Flanders as part of a coordinated international operation targeting an organised migrant smuggling network suspected of facilitating the irregular entry of up to 300 non-EU nationals into the European Union. In total, fifteen suspects were apprehended in Belgium, Germany and Poland, in a series of actions supported by Europol and Eurojust and involving close cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities in the participating countries.

Several raids were carried out on 19 March 2025 by German authorities, with the support of investigators from the Belgian Federal Police. The operation targeted a criminal network based in Germany, facilitating the crossing of the English Channel by small boats. It resulted in 6 arrests under Belgian judicial orders.    

Met 401 stemmen voor, 284 tegen en 22 blanco of ongeldig uitgebrachte stemmen, heeft het Europees Parlement op 18 juli Ursula von der Leyen verkozen tot voorzitter van de Europese Commissie. Ze presenteerde haar Politieke Richtlijnen voor de volgende Europese Commissie 2024-2029, waarin ze onder andere verwees naar veiligheid, buitengrenzen en migratiebeheer.

Een grootschalige operatie van rechtshandhavings- en justitiële autoriteiten leidde tot de ontmanteling van één van de actiefste netwerken van migrantensmokkel over het Kanaal in kleine bootjes. De operatie werd gecoördineerd door Europol en Eurojust en betrok de Belgische, Franse en Duitse autoriteiten.

Vandaag tijdens een conferentie stelde de Europese Commissie haar wetsvoorstel voor in de strijd tegen mensensmokkel. Daarnaast ijvert de Commissie voor een wereldwijde alliantie om mensensmokkel te bestrijden.