Muckraker documentary investigates West African migration routes to Europe

The investigative outlet Muckraker has released a 47-minute documentary titled ‘Replacing Europe,’ which examines the West African migration route from Mauritania through Spain and France to the United Kingdom. Based on two months of reporting and undercover footage, the film alleges that the movement of migrants is an organized system rather than chaotic migration.

The documentary features claims from Sheikh M. Kromah, a former worker for the UN’s International Organization for Migration, who stated, ‘The entire migration is a game,’ and suggested that Spain may have financial incentives to maintain arrival levels to ensure continued European Union funding.

Further investigations in the film highlight the role of NGOs and activist groups. For instance, the organization ACCEM reportedly received approximately €225 million in 2024, with 88% of those funds provided by the Spanish central government. The report also describes instances of activists assisting migrants in crossing borders and the significant profits made by smuggling networks, which can charge between €50,000 and €60,000 per boat trip.