Europol has launched a new unit aimed at strengthening the fight against migrant smuggling across Europe and beyond, as authorities step up efforts to dismantle criminal networks exploiting vulnerable people.
The new initiative, known as the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS), will focus on identifying and disrupting smuggling groups that profit from dangerous migration journeys.
Speaking on the launch, Europol chief Catherine De Bolle warned that smugglers treat migrants as commodities, putting their lives at serious risk. She stressed the need for stronger action to stop these criminal operations.
The centre will collect and analyse intelligence from across EU member states, helping law enforcement agencies track suspects and coordinate cross-border investigations more effectively. Officials say this will improve response times and increase the success rate of operations.
A major focus of the new unit will be tackling smuggling activities online. Criminal networks increasingly rely on social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and digital payments, including cryptocurrencies, to organise journeys and recruit migrants.
By expanding digital investigations, ECAMS aims to better monitor these activities and support specialized teams working to uncover hidden networks operating across borders.
Another key strategy is targeting the financial structures behind migrant smuggling. Authorities plan to follow money trails to identify how these networks generate and move profits, to disrupt their operations at the source.
The centre will also strengthen cooperation between European countries and international partners. Agencies such as Frontex and Eurojust are expected to play an important role in joint efforts to combat smuggling.
Europol noted that migrant smuggling remains a complex and evolving crime, often involving multiple countries and sophisticated methods. In 2025 alone, the agency supported around 200 operations and coordinated dozens of joint action days across Europe.
Officials say the launch of ECAMS marks a significant step toward a more coordinated and global response to migrant smuggling, with a stronger focus on intelligence sharing, technology, and international collaboration.