What distinguishes trafficking from smuggling?

The distinction between trafficking and smuggling is fundamentally based on the nature of the activities involved. Trafficking is characterized by the exploitation of individuals, often for purposes such as forced labor or sexual exploitation. This exploitation can occur regardless of whether the victim has crossed any borders. In contrast, smuggling specifically involves the illegal transportation of individuals across borders, typically with their consent, for financial gain.

Thus, while trafficking is inherently about the victimization and exploitation of individuals, smuggling focuses on the act of crossing borders illegally. This highlights the key difference where trafficking emphasizes the harmful outcomes for individuals involved, while smuggling is more about the logistics and legality of border crossing.