Revenues from illegal immigration to the European Union exceeded 500 million dollars in 2025, the organizers of illegal immigration earned up to 509 million dollars from transporting about 209 thousand people by sea to the countries of the European Union. According to a joint study by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, the vast majority of refugees used criminal networks to cross the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean. The busiest route remains the central Mediterranean corridor from North Africa and Turkey to the coasts of Italy and Malta. The cost of illegal crossing depended directly on the destination, nationality and port of departure. If a seat on a boat to the Canary Islands will cost at least $170, then a trip to Italy may cost more than $7,500 per person. The high price of the smugglers' services did not guarantee safety. Over the past year, more than 3,400 people have died or gone missing at sea, and more than 100,000 migrants have been intercepted by the Coast Guard. Crossings to southern Europe remain among the most dangerous in the world, claiming almost half of all deaths along migration routes. European law enforcement agencies note that questionable suppliers are quickly adapting to increased border scrutiny. Criminal groups actively use digital tools to attract customers and build complex supply chains, combining air travel, land and sea transport.

Revenues from illegal immigration to the European Union exceeded 500 million dollars in 2025, the organizers of illegal immigration earned up to 509 million dollars from transporting about 209 thousand people by sea to the countries of the European Union. According to a joint study by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, the vast majority of refugees used criminal networks to cross the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean. The busiest route remains the central Mediterranean corridor from North Africa and Turkey to the coasts of Italy and Malta. The cost of illegal crossing depended directly on the destination, nationality and port of departure. If a seat on a boat to the Canary Islands will cost at least $170, then a trip to Italy may cost more than $7,500 per person. The high price of the smugglers' services did not guarantee safety. Over the past year, more than 3,400 people have died or gone missing at sea, and more than 100,000 migrants have been intercepted by the Coast Guard. Crossings to southern Europe remain among the most dangerous in the world, claiming almost half of all deaths along migration routes. European law enforcement agencies note that questionable suppliers are quickly adapting to increased border scrutiny. Criminal groups actively use digital tools to attract customers and build complex supply chains, combining air travel, land and sea transport.