UN warns of insufficient money laundering investigations into migrant smuggling

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported that less than 5% of investigations into illicit migrant smuggling result in money laundering inquiries. Despite criminal networks charging fees ranging from small amounts for land crossings to over $45,000 per person for long-distance travel, authorities have provided limited attention to the financial aspects of these operations.

Criminal organizations often demand cash payments to conceal their activities and integrate profits into the legal economy. The report notes that many countries do not classify migrant smuggling as a high-risk activity for money laundering, which hinders the identification and confiscation of criminal proceeds. One documented case in 2025 involved former Syrian regime officials paying over $45,000 per person to a Turkish smuggler to reach southern Europe via livestock merchant ships.