Trafficking in human beings is run by transnational criminal networks formed by heterogeneous and interethnic criminal aggregates with a different level of specialisation, functional to the implementation of different phases of the migrants trafficking.

The persons do not always “belong” to a single organisation, but constitute a stable criminal network, decentralised, expanding and acquiring power. The overall organizational structure has a transnational structure, functioning as a criminal integrated system, mainly bild on relations of interdependence and complementarity.

In the Mediterranean zone, the sea transit is managed by powerful criminal organisations operating from Lybia and Albania. In Italy, Nigerian, Chinese, Romanian and Moldavian divide the internal market of prostitution and forced labor. Those rely mainly on the phenomenon of overstayers, foreigners who use the so called “touristic”, “work” or “residence” visa to enter, apparently regularly, and remain in Italy.

The main actions of contrast of the Italian authorities are: integrated management of Schengen borders, development aid to the origin and transit countries, regulations of the flows through legal agreements with involved foreign countries. Only a wide and integrated contrast involving the police forces, the judiciary systems, the governments and ONG's could get positive results against those criminal activities.