Migrant Smuggling Data and Research

Figure 8.3: Smuggling as a set of business-related interactions and deliverables
Some key results were similar across the two countries: (a) marketing was
generally through word of mouth using a referral-based system; (b) smugglers
were viewed as agents facilitating the migration process as opposed to people
to be feared; and (c) smugglers had linkages with local authorities. Other results
were slightly different, such as those relating to specific service offerings by
smugglers, and business structures.
The studies supplement intelligence on smuggling gathered using
traditional intelligence techniques, by providing a much more robust and
rigorous approach to examining smuggling. The studies produced over 200
pages of transcripts that were transcribed and analysed in NVivo.
The data was gathered for two reasons: (a) hopefully assist policymakers
directly on the roles and operations of smugglers; and (b) contribute to the
broader research agenda on migrant smuggling, including through academic
and other channels. The findings support previous work on smuggling (Salt
and Stein, 1997; Koser, 2008) while also delving more deeply into aspects of
smuggling processes.
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8. South Asia