Executive Summary: "This report outlines patterns of migrant smuggling in Asia and presents evidence-based knowledge to guide policy and strengthen international cooperation. Developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it is part of a series of knowledge products considering acute and far-reaching issues confronting governments and communities in South-East Asia, as part of an ongoing analytical and capacity-strengthening process. Migrant smuggling occurs against the backdrop of regional integration within Asia, which has created a rapid increase in the cross-border movement of people and goods. Countries often have a multifaceted relationship to the migration phenomenon, simultaneously serving as a source, transit and destination for regular and irregular migration. Although most migrant smuggling in the region takes place within Asia, smuggled migrants are also reaching destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. The majority of smuggled migrants are young male adults but there are also a significant number of young women and children. While a range of factors motivate migration, such as family reunification or escaping (political) persecution, the majority of migrants are in pursuit of better economic opportunities. Smugglers are used when accessing legal channels for migration proves unsuccessful or remains difficult. Regular labour migration channels are typically inadequate, and therefore informal, unlicensed, and also licensed recruitment agencies exploit these shortcomings and fill in the gaps. In South-East Asia, labour opportunities are the primary driver for irregular migration, with male smuggled migrants taking on positions in manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries and construction. Female migration is also on the rise and often leads to work in domestic service, hospitality, entertainment or the sex industry. Irregular migrants are typically young and willing (and able) to face the risks associated with what can be a difficult journey. They can adapt to what sometimes are harsh work and living conditions in the destination country. However, families and unaccompanied minors are also migrating irregularly, which risks even more dramatic consequences. Smuggling is often a complex process with real dangers for the lives, health and safety of migrants. In addition to being far away from their home communities and in the destination country illegally, smuggled migrants find it difficult to assert their rights. They are more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and trafficking as well as susceptible to involvement in criminal activities. Despite the lack of comprehensive research or documentation, an estimated 40,000 irregular migrants have died worldwide since 2000. Smugglers of migrants are driven by profit and the complexity and level of organization of a journey depends on the intended destination and the amount a migrant is willing or able to pay. Smuggling networks have been reported to manage complex operations covering source, transit and destination countries. The majority of operations in Asia, however, take place on an ad hoc and less sophisticated basis. Active in a variety of roles, smugglers are involved as recruiters, transporters, accommodation providers, facilitators, enforcers, organizers and financiers. They can adapt quickly to changing circumstances and comprise a range of diverse backgrounds, nationalities and age groups. In many cases, the smugglers were once smuggled migrants..."