Transnational Crime Innovation: How Human Trafficking Networks Adapt to Migration Policies - North Macedonian response during the everlasting European migrant crisis

The lack of proper recognition of human trafficking within the broader phenomenon of migrant smuggling in North Macedonia remains a critical challenge in the country’s response to transnational organized crime. This paper provides a criminological and legal analysis of the blurred lines between human trafficking and migrant smuggling over the past decade, from the peak of the migrant crisis in 2015 to the present day. Despite North Macedonia’s strategic geographic location along the Balkan migration route, its law enforcement and judicial authorities often misclassify trafficking cases as smuggling, resulting in inadequate victim protection and lenient prosecution of perpetrators.
By employing a deep criminal analysis, this study examines case studies, official statistics, and legal frameworks to highlight the systemic gaps in identifying and prosecuting trafficking networks. The findings reveal that while significant efforts have been made to curb migrant smuggling, human trafficking continues to be underreported, overlooked, or miscategorized due to investigative shortcomings, lack of specialized training, and insufficient victim-centered approaches. The significance of this research extends beyond North Macedonia. Understanding the Balkan corridor is vital for shaping foreign policy and security strategies for the United States, which invests in global anti-trafficking efforts and counter-organized crime initiatives. Central European countries, as primary destinations for trafficked individuals, have shown several times that their security depends on the border politics of countries along the Balkan route. For instance, the Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Poland, Hungary & the Czech Republic) have deployed their police officers to patrol the Macedonian borderlines alongside Macedonian officers to ensure that there are no illegal border crossing that ultimately results in arrival in some of the European countries.
This paper argues that addressing the legal and institutional weaknesses in distinguishing between human trafficking and smuggling is crucial for enhancing victim protection and strengthening North Macedonia’s compliance with international anti-trafficking standards. By examining the socio-economic and geopolitical factors enabling organized crime in the region, the paper highlights the systemic shortcomings that allow trafficking networks to thrive under the mask of migrant smuggling. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving law enforcement strategies, cross-border cooperation, and judicial practices to ensure a more effective and just response to these interconnected crimes.