Citation

Icduygu A, Toktas S. Int. Migr. 2002; 40(6): 25-54.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration [and] Research Group for European Migration Problems)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This essay and review summarizes trends, issues, actors, and activities pertaining to human trafficking and smuggling via irregular border crossings in the Middle East. Its premise is that globally articulated networks of locally operating independent, individual groups--rather than hierarchical mafia-type organized crime groups--comprise the essential foundation for human trafficking and smuggling in this region. The available empirical evidence suggests that elaborating on this activity is a delicate task, and any consideration of priorities for data collection and analysis must begin with a clear idea of the information needed and how to obtain it. The data cited here provide what appear to be the first primary, reliable, and representative information gleaned directly from interviews with traffickers and smugglers conducted during five years of fieldwork in Turkey. The ongoing pattern of human trafficking and smuggling in the region is based to a large degree on the interpersonal trust relations between traffickers and smugglers and migrants, as well as national-, ethnic-, kinship-, and friendship-based networks spanning countries of origin, transit, and destination worldwide. Although the nature of trafficking and smuggling in the Middle East differs substantially from similar global activities, these issues must also be addressed from the perspective of criminal justice and human rights.

Keywords: Human trafficking