The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated smugglers received $388 million to $509 million on Europe’s four main sea routes in 2025, when 3,404 people died or were reported missing there.
UNODC put the number of people smuggled on the corridors at 190,000 to 209,000. The Central Mediterranean had the highest estimated volume, with 84,000 to 100,400 people attempting the crossing. The Eastern Mediterranean followed, at 48,400 to 51,300.
The Eastern Mediterranean corridor connects departures from Türkiye, Libya and the Middle East with destinations in Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. The Northwest African Atlantic route had 33,000 people, while the Western Mediterranean route, linking North and West Africa to Spain, had 24,500.
UNODC estimated that smugglers were involved in 72% to 86% of departures on the Central Mediterranean route, 75% to 90% on the Eastern route, 73% to 83% on the Northwest African Atlantic route and 57% to 90% on the Western route. The agency cautioned that not everyone attempting irregular entry by sea is smuggled.
An International Organization for Migration (IOM) survey found nearly half of respondents who had sought smugglers for journeys originating in North Africa or Türkiye and bound for Italy or Malta said they paid more than $7,500. The finding concerns those survey respondents, not every traveler on the routes. UNODC put the lowest reported per-person charge at $170 for passage from Northwest Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands. People cross that hazardous route in open boats.
The UN reported 3,404 people died or were reported missing on the routes in 2025. Another 104,200 were intercepted at sea and returned, according to the UN. UNODC said financial gain motivates migrant smuggling.
