New chapter in 'Report Globale Flucht 2025' (in German)

'Wie Migrationsabwehr und gefährliche Migrationsrouten zusammenhängen. Das Beispiel der Lösegeldschleusung in Libyen', in: Report Globale Flucht 2025, ed. by J. Oltmer, M. Berlinghoff, F. Düvell, B. Etzold, C. Lang & A. Pott, pp. 126–138. Frankfurt am Main: S. Fischer Verlag.

In the late 2000s, following the implementation of European policies to prevent irregular migration, a new form of human smuggling – ransom smuggling – emerged in North Africa. Ransom smuggling is dangerous and complex, involving both human smugglers and hostage-takers. This blog post traces the history of ransom smuggling, as it emerged almost simultaneously in different regions of the world at a time of increasing restrictions on migration, making migration more dangerous. It also outlines the results of research with Somalis in Germany – despite the risks involved, the majority of respondents who had arrived in Germany between 2011 and 2017 had used the route via Libya because it was cheaper, easier to organise, and better known than other routes.