‘Kriminal i novac’: razumijevanje trgovine ljudima i povezanih finansija u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu’

The aim of this paper is to provide a view of human trafficking as an illegal business in the United Kingdom (UK), one of the most significant "countries of destination" for victims of human trafficking, linking it to the context of states in the Balkans, as "countries of origin". In addition to a detailed literature review on this topic, the research is primarily based on interviews conducted with anti-trafficking professionals, who come from various UK law enforcement agencies, NGOs, the Home Office, social services and academia, but also on intelligence from the Metropolitan Police report. Research has shown that the "scene" of human trafficking in the UK is extremely fragmented and decentralised, and with the possibility of easily entering this illegal "market". The results obtained indicate that there are a number of reasons for entering such a "market", with all the justifications having clear financial implications. The organization of human trafficking, and the accompanying financial flows, are significantly facilitated through the use of information and communication technologies. Profits from human trafficking, in the UK, are usually not great (compared to other forms of organised crime), and the management of these funds reflects the fragmented nature of this phenomenon. Although some sophisticated methods of money laundering acquired through human trafficking can also be identified, they are nevertheless an exception, not a rule.