In fresh years, Europe has faced an expanding number of illegal migration cases. Especially in 2023, there was a crucial increase in the number of migrants trying to scope Europe, especially Germany. all second migrant passes through Poland before reaching our western neighbours.
Problem scale: evidence numbers of illegal border crossings
In 2023, the European Border and Coast defender Agency reported around 380 200 illegal border crossings at the external borders of the European Union. This is the highest score since 2016, which shows the scale of the problem. It is worth noting that this figure was 326.3 1000 a year earlier, which represents a crucial increase.
In Germany, the national Investigation Office (BKA) registered 266,224 people who either entered the country illegally or stayed there without the required permits. Compared to the erstwhile year, this figure increased by 33.4%, which is an alarming signal to the authorities.
Countries of origin of migrants
Migrants come mainly from 3 countries: Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan. According to BKA data, in 2023 the largest group were Syrian citizens (54 207 people), then Turkey (35,732) and Afghanistan (35,370 people). Many of these migrants have benefited from the aid of smugglers, stressing how hard their situation is and how complicated the full network of metastasis is.
The BKA study states: "On many sections of the escape routes, it is hard to scope the destination country without the aid of smugglers." These words reflect the dangerous reality that migrants face in trying to scope Europe.
Poland as the main smuggling route
The reports indicate that Poland is 1 of the main transit countries for migrants going to Germany. According to BKA, almost all second smuggler (41.9%) arrived through Poland in 2023. Austria (29.4%) and the Czech Republic (22.5 percent) are next.
The identified people travelled mainly on ft (37.1%), vans (25.6%) and cars (24.3%). It is assumed that persons travelling on ft were previously transported by vehicle or transported in ‘containers’ under inhuman conditions, which poses a serious threat to their wellness and life. The number of registered “containers smuggling operations” has more than doubled and the number of persons smuggled by this method has increased even 5 times, reaching around 17,500 people.
Activities of smuggling groups
Trafficking groups show ruthlessness and deficiency of respect for the lives and wellness of smuggled people. "Smuggling groups have acted riskyly and ruthlessly towards smuggled people, uninvolved 3rd parties and police forces deployed to avoid control and so prosecution," says the report.
The BKA study emphasises that smugglers come mainly from Syria, Germany, Turkey and Ukraine. Additionally, smuggling organisations are increasingly utilizing social media to advance their services. This fresh phenomenon shows how crucial global cooperation is in combating this crime.
Summary
The crucial increase in illegal migration to Europe in 2023, especially through Poland to Germany, poses many challenges for the countries of the European Union. The effective fight against human trafficking requires not only better border control, but besides closer global cooperation and the usage of modern technologies to identify and prosecute criminals. The future will show whether these actions will produce the desired results and whether Europe will be able to effectively manage the increasing wave of migration.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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Illegal immigrants flood Europe. all second 1 goes through Poland
