Migration policy framework for Africa and plan of action (2018 – 2030) 5. Irregular migration 5.1 Migrant smuggling A growing proportion of migrants are moving irregularly, due to a number of factors, including the need for international protection and increased barriers to regular migration. Migrant smuggling is closely tied to other forms of international organised crime, including human trafficking, and can adversely affect national and international stability and security. However, migrants who resort to smugglers are often extremely vulnerable – they pay large sums of money to undertake perilous voyages in order to seek protection or a better life, and are sometimes trafficked in the process. Consequently, government responses and policies to smuggling should at all stages take account of migrants’ human rights, and to the extent possible, seek to respond to the motivations behind this form of irregular migration. Moreover, there is an urgent need to look at the interlinkages between various forms of transnational organised crime, especially smuggling of migrants and human trafficking, with other forms of transnational organised crime, terrorism and corruption. Across Africa, the networks engaged in organised crime change their modus operandi fairly easily in order to increase their profits, and in certain areas, routes used by smugglers and traffickers cross through areas controlled by extremist groups/groups engaged in terrorism. Regional approaches and strengthening regional capacities are needed to respond to quickly changing circumstances and routes and modus operandi of smuggling and trafficking networks. Efforts purely concentrated on current smuggling hubs can divert the routes to other areas and change the routes to be more dangerous to migrants. There is also a need to enhance regional and international collaboration between countries in Africa and Europe – both informal and formal collaboration (joint investigations, changing of operational information, mutual legal assistance, extradition etc.) including through existing regional networks of law enforcement and magistrates, such as the Network of West African Central Authorities and Prosecutors against Organized Crime. Recommended strategies i. Strengthen the Legal Framework: zz Ratify the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 2000 and incorporate its provisions into domestic law. 48