Migrant smuggling in Italy and Turkey

Migration is basically a movement of displacement. International migration phenomenon as one of the types of migration and is one of the main migration issues lately. Yet, the number of international migrants has reached more than ever in recent years. The issue of migrant smuggling which is an illegal type of international migration has wide spreaded in media coverage in recent years. This study analyzes the issue of migrant smuggling in terms of smuggling by sea on the Mediterranean and Aegean water. Especially death occurred in recent years in the Mediterranean and Aegean sea such as Aylan Kurdi story indicates for an academic investigation of the subject in terms of migrant victimization. Italy is the country with the highest number of problems in Europe in terms of migrant smuggling by sea. Yet, Italy is the highest mortality rate country in three major migrant smuggling routes to Europe by sea. In order to prevent migrant smuggling in Italy, the European Union (with FRONTEX), the Italian government and some Non- Governmental Organisations are being active. However, despite all these operations, mortality rate does not decrease and victimization continues to be experienced. Turkey does not have a long history as Italy in terms of migrant smuggling by sea. Turkey, has a very crucial position for Europe, as it a transit point for the migrant smuggling by sea. The smuggling adventure in Turkey that started in 2000s then increased in 2006s and reached its maximum level in 2009. Then in 2010, it started to decrease when operation took place and after the readmission agreement. The aim of this study is to analyze the migrant smuggling concept in Itay and Turkey in particular, in terms of historical, legal and political comparison, looking at the details of migrant smuggling routes of two countries and researching on how it has affected the migrant victimization of those activities that has undertaken by Italian and Turkish government and some Non-Governmental Organisations in the region. Key Words: Illegal Migrants, Italy, Migrant Smuggling, Migration, Search and Rescue Operations, Turkey.