The nine smugglers caught this year represent just a small fraction of those who engage in the business, according to Lehkoduh. In 1999 there were approximately 19 different criminal groups working at just one section of the border, he said. The economic benefits of the trade make it more than worth the risk for poor Ukrainians. That was the year the economy spiraled downward after the previous autumn's financial crash. Migrants interviewed in Mukachevo for this article were reluctant to reveal how much they paid.
Money is paid up-front and divvied up by various traffickers along the way.
Most locals receive only a small amount of the profits. The ones who receive the real money are those at the top who operate the system. The profits are large indeed. Help Wanted Western countries concerned about the increase in refugees have tightened their borders but the flow continues largely because transit countries such as Ukraine do not have the experience or resources to combat the problem. The problem is a global one, and Melnykov thinks it is in the West's best interest to help out.