At least 82,000 people illegally crossed into the European Union in the first seven months of 2021, a 59% increase from 2020.
This is according to preliminary calculations published by Frontex, the EU’s border guard agency.
Frontex reported some 17,300 illegal border crossings in July alone, a third more than July last year. They also reported “migratory pressure” on the easter frontiers of the EU with more than 3,000 illegal entries from Belarus via Lithuania in July.
The report from Frontex didn’t note that the uptick in cases this year was most likely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. While many illegal border crossings still took place, the number was less due to restrictions on movement and vehicles.
The most problematic route remains the Central Mediterranean route, followed by the Western Balkan route.
The latter saw 3,600 detections in July, 67% higher than the year before. The number of illegal border crossings over the seven months of 2021 rose by 90% and totaled 22,600. Most of the migrants came from Syria and Afghanistan, while some came from Morocco.
Migrant smuggling networks in Albania are carefully organized. The networks include agents in Greece, couriers, and drivers in Albania, and contacts in other Western Balkan countries. Some claim that law enforcement has either helped or turned a blind eye to the situation. Albanians, Kurds, and Moroccans run these smuggling gangs.
You can read more about the migrant issue from a confirmed smuggler here.
