Page 70 - FMR64_Trafficking and smuggling & Climate crisis and local communities_2020_web

FMR 64
70 Trafficking and smuggling
www.fmreview.org/issue64 June 2020

UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis

A man found at the wheel of a boat carrying a group of Syrian refugees crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey is taken into custody by Greek
police on the island of Lesvos on suspicion of smuggling.
operations off the Libyan coast, South beyond their capacities, and increasing the
Africa’s immigration crackdowns, and the cost of a seat on board. To avoid detection
militarisation of borders across south Asia, by maritime patrols, boat launches began
including the India–Bangladesh border. taking place at night, even in inclement
conditions. These adaptations resulted in
Impact on refugees numerous sinkings and drownings, while
The impact of this State enforcement fell smugglers remained safely on dry land.
mainly on the migrants rather than on the Furthermore, the increased presence of
smugglers, who were able to pass their State security actors – most of whom had
increasing costs and risks onto their refugee been transferred from unrelated departments
clients. For example, prior to 2014, smugglers to fill capacity gaps, and therefore had little
would regularly accompany refugees on or no experience with refugees or border
their crossing from the Turkish coast to operations – resulted in numerous incidents
the Greek islands, afterwards returning to of confusion among State security actors, or in
Turkey. Facing growing risk of interception violence by these actors against refugees who
and arrest after 2014, smugglers stopped were mistaken for smugglers. For example,
accompanying refugees, instead giving to avoid being arrested smugglers began
them a tablet computer, a compass or often assigning to a refugee the role of navigator;
nothing more than a gesture in the direction upon arrival on a Greek island this refugee
of a light on the horizon to navigate the navigator was often mistakenly identified by
24km crossing. Knowing that boats would be police as a smuggler and detained. Without
apprehended and destroyed, smugglers began training in how to differentiate smugglers
using old unreliable vessels to minimise their from refugees, distinguish different
operating costs, overcrowding dinghies far nationalities or understand international