 While reliable data is scarce, experts note that "current estimates place the number of irregular migrants worldwide at up to thirty million and that a substantial proportion of these persons can be expected to have used the services of smugglers at one or more points in their journey".People smuggling between the United States and Mexico is a booming business that, as of 2003, garnered over $5 billion a year.Similarly, in the EU, profits from people smuggling operations is estimated to be around €4 billion per year.