Article content continued

“One of the universal truths about human smuggling is that networks will use points of least resistance to get people through,” said Jean-Philippe Chauzy, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which helped the Benin migrants.

“So when you have a border that’s being toughened or when you’ve got increased surveillance at ports or airports in one part of the world, then the network will basically adapt. And West Africa is probably … a transit region now for migrants.”

Last year, more than 200 Sri Lankans who had paid agents for passage to Canada were abandoned in Togo. In May, police in neighbouring Ghana, acting on a tip from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, arrested several Sri Lankans who were allegedly planning to use a fishing boat to ferry migrants to Canada.

More Sri Lankans turned up in Benin several weeks ago.

“It seems they were completely stranded there,” Mr. Chauzy said. “I don’t have any information as to whether they were going to Canada or not.”

The IOM provided food, water and medical aid, while the UN refugee agency was brought in to ask if any wanted to make claims for protection. But none did; all agreed to return voluntarily to Sri Lanka. Three IOM staff accompanied them on the plane.

“The sad reality is that people paying smuggling networks usually are not aware of the difficulties and the risks they are about to take,” Mr. Chauzy said from Geneva.

“And smuggling networks tend to paint a very rosy picture, or at least be very economical with the truth, as to what those people are going to face on the smuggling routes.