Filkov: Migrant smuggling knows no borders - the response must be joint

The Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, participated today in an event dedicated to the new Migration and Asylum Package, organized by the National Convention for the European Union in the Republic of North Macedonia.
In his address, the Minister emphasized that migrant smuggling is one of the fastest growing forms of organized crime in the world - a serious security and humanitarian challenge that no country can deal with alone.
The Republic of Macedonia has ratified all relevant international instruments, including the United Nations Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants. However, the key challenge remains the consistent application of standards and the strengthening of international cooperation.
,,At the national level, the role of the competent authorities in the detection, prosecution and adjudication of this type of crime is significant. It is necessary to treat migrant smuggling through instruments characteristic of the fight against organized crime. In this context, the "follow the money" approach, supported by efficient international cooperation, is of essential importance, especially considering the growing influence of modern technologies on the manner in which these crimes are committed. Therefore, financial investigations targeting the criminal infrastructure represent a key segment in the fight against this phenomenon," Filkov said.
In that regard, the Minister informed that the Ministry of Justice is actively working on the preparation of new systemic laws, with the new Criminal Code and the draft version of the Law on Criminal Procedure incorporating the latest international standards, especially in the area of financial investigations, procedural rights and victim protection.
He also pointed to the increased volume of international legal assistance in recent years, with 46 cases filed in 2024 for the criminal offense of "Smuggling of Migrants", and in 2025 - 56 cases, mostly with European countries, which confirms the intensive international cooperation in this area.