As the European Union is tightening its borders, violent transnational smuggling groups have consolidated their grip on the routes that bring refugees and migrants through the Balkans.
In the Spring of this year, an Albanian police patrol was sent to investigate the mountain area near the village of Morine, not far from the border with Kosovo. What has started as a simple routine check has rapidly turned into a small skirmish, which resulted in a police officer and a smuggler being hurt.
In order to join the European bloc, the Balkan States have to impose stricter measures to ensure the safety of their borders, and in order to control de migrant fluxes that cross the region. In this context, the Western Balkans have become one of the most violent regions for migrants, as local authorities try to impose stricter measures at the border.
Cooperation between local criminal groups and migrant smuggling networks has also been reported. Given the large sums of money involved, conflicts among migrants have risen. With the increased risk of being detected, migrants have become more organised, often collaborating with criminal structures to secure a safer and quicker passage towards the European Union.
