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submarines, are still being used, but that smugglers are putting more faith than ever in the big supply chains that have grown in the era of trade globalisation. The world’s biggest liner operators have all been hit by drug


cases over the years, and halting the trade looks a nearly impossible task. Heroin also is being moved on boxships. In August 2019, the


UK’s National Crime Agency seized a record 1.3 tons of the drug in a container onboard the Maersk Gibraltar – operated by Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk A/S – at the UK’s biggest seaport, Felixstowe. The container was returned to the vessel, shipped to


Antwerp and sent by truck to a warehouse in Rotterdam, where police arrested four people they said were linked to the shipment. Law enforcement and shipping executives say that one way to curtail drug cargoes is to change the risk calculation for


smugglers by checking at least three of every 10 containers before they are loaded on ships, or three times more than the current checks.


Who is responsible? “The way the current supply chain is structured is designed for just-in-time delivery,” said Allianz’s Mr Kinsey. “It is the responsibility of the entire supply chain to check cargo, which currently amounts to cursory oversight.” Of course, that would also mean slowing down commercial


shipping operations that form a backbone of the global economy, providing a tough question for shipping companies and public policymakers alike.


BIFA would like to acknowledge permission from the Wall Street Journal to reproduce this article that was originally published on www.wsj.com in January 2020.


Reporting freight-related crime – Operations Pegasus and Pandora


During the past year, one recurring theme in BIFA’s work has to been to highlight the increasing effort being put into combating freight-related crime in any one mode. BIFA became particularly involved in the work of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NAVCIS) and now provides financial support to this organisation, which focuses its efforts on combating vehicle-related crime. On a wider front, Border Force approached


BIFA regarding an initiative to highlight freight- related crime and how Members could assist


March 2020


the authorities. Attendees at recent BIFA meetings have been advised by Border Force about various initiatives aimed at improving the detection of smuggled and illegal goods into the UK. One issue that Members have previously raised is the difficulty in reporting their suspicions to the relevant authorities. Border Force has now issued the following


contact numbers for Members to use to advise of any suspicions they might have. Please note that there are different numbers for air and ocean.


Air contact numbers Tel: 0203 196 2456 (0700-2000) Tel: 0203 014 5604 (24-hours) Crimestoppers: 0800 555111 or 101 quoting reference Pegasus


Ocean contact numbers Tel: 01394 303 116 (office hours) Tel: 07920 587808 (24-hours) Quoting the reference Pandora. Border Force has confirmed that all reports will be treated in the strictest confidence.


11


US Customs and Border Protection


officials said cocaine seized from the MSC Gayane in


Philadelphia last


June weighed more than 39,500 lbs


Matt Rourke/Associated Press


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