29/04/2026
🌊 Maritime people smuggling, particularly across the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal corridor, remains one of the most complex migration challenges in the region. According to
IOM - UN Migration more than 6,500 people embarked on dangerous maritime journeys in 2025, with over 860 deaths and disappearances recorded in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal alone.
The establishment of the Regional Information, Liaison, and Outreach Network (RILON) Maritime People Smuggling Response Group brought together frontline practitioners and policy counterparts from six most-affected countries—Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste—to lay the foundations for timely, trusted, and actionable information sharing to counter irregular migration and maritime people smuggling in the region.
Participating Member States are seconding officers to the RSO office in Bangkok, Thailand, where officials will work together to strengthen sustained networks and connections that can support cross-border coordination.
The RSO held a foundation-setting Induction Programme in Bangkok over 30 March-1 April, providing an early opportunity for participating Members to come together and strengthen shared understanding to enable more effective responses to irregular migration and maritime people smuggling across the region.
Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/53skxsvx