Who are human traffickers? Evidence from Romanian prisons

Abstract This paper explores the profiles, motivations, and methods of human traffickers incarcerated in Romania, based on 20 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2018 at Jilava Prison. The study addresses the research question: "How do traffickers rationalize their involvement in human trafficking?" By developing typologies of traffickers and analyzing mechanisms of justification and motivation, the research highlights both the external socio-economic contexts and individual personal characteristics in which traffickers operate. It places these findings in the broader context of labor market imbalances and irregular migration routes that create favorable conditions for trafficking. This paper challenges simplistic portrayals of traffickers as a homogeneous group. These insights are useful not only in academic debates but also have important policy implications. This paper calls for further research and a stronger connection between migration, labor exploitation, and human trafficking.