Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“A courtroom exchange on Tuesday in the West African nation of Senegal drew out what may be a key to resolving one of the most pernicious aspects of mass migration. Under vigorous questioning from the judge, a defendant acknowledged his role in transporting people illegally. Then he asked for ‘everyone’s forgiveness’. The scale of human smuggling around the world is hard to quantify. The global population of migrants nears 300 million, according to the United Nations. Much of that movement crosses the Mediterranean Sea. At one point, as many as 90% of people reaching Europe irregularly from Africa moved through criminal networks, generating billions of dollars in illicit commerce. Europe has tried a range of strategies to curb the flow. In its latest move, the European Union launched a new network Wednesday to coordinate efforts among its 27 member states to counter drug trafficking, money laundering, and people smuggling.” (09/26/24)