BREAKTHROUGH REQUESTED


as the dark-web and chat-app Telegram. The research consists of interviews and observations with government officials, law enforcement, private sector representatives, drivers, couriers, interest associations, and other experts in the sector, and in the field of transport crime. Interviews were also conducted with experienced criminals.


The main conclusion: This research into vulnerabilities to criminal activities, and public- private measures in road freight transport, points to working conditions and competitive pressure as being the most prominent explanations for transport crime. This is against a backdrop of a low chance of being caught – which enables criminals to use legal freight transports more easily - and well-organised, wealthy criminal networks that gratefully make use of the exceptional logistical infrastructure of the Netherlands as a ‘Gateway to Europe’.


It is not a new phenomenon that criminals actively recruit persons or companies in vulnerable economic positions. It is visible in companies: corruption is a real problem that the transport sector is trying to tackle. Fierce competition and increased labour market flexibility lead to the adoption of all kinds of survival strategies. These strategies sometimes evoke criminal activities. In addition, digitalisation and tech-solutions, and low barriers for newcomers to enter the market, give rise to a downward pressure on transportation prices.


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At the same time, for example, subcontractors and couriers do not seem to benefit from the revenue growth in parcel delivery companies, leading to a persistent imbalance in growth. All these factors increase economic vulnerability. It is a downwards spiral, and the sector seems to be incapable or unwilling to put an end to it by itself. Business culture, low entry barriers and digitalisation should not be ignored, but - based on this research - are less evident explanations for criminal activities. The most prominent cause is related to financial- economic vulnerability, notably working conditions and competitive pressure.


This conclusion does not imply that the sector is full of ill-intentioned logistical service providers and corruptible drivers. On the contrary, despite economic vulnerability, most companies, drivers and couriers have no intentions of getting involved with criminals. It is important to acknowledge that transport and logistics are essential components in criminal processes, and specifically in smuggling. Like any goods in legal business operations, contraband goods need to be shipped from A to B to match supply and demand.


Breakthrough requested and inter-departmental awareness


A breakthrough is needed to end the downwards spiral and to address what currently seems to be stuck: business interests, tight profit margins, and sometimes even hopelessness.


In the recommendations, a distinction is made between advice aimed at:


1. forcing a breakthrough 2. hindering crime, and 3. fostering public-private collaboration


The advice aimed at hindering crime attempts to go beyond judicial strategies. Although those are necessary as well, a good balance needs to be found between law enforcement, on the one hand, and taking away the breeding ground for non-compliant behaviour on the other hand. Currently, the response patterns still show system failure. Policies, interventions and public-private collaboration are mainly focussed on short-term solutions: creating awareness and imposing barriers. Less attention seems to be given to tackling the underlying pattern: the social-economic vulnerability.


‘The most prominent cause is related to financial- economic vulnerability, notably working conditions and competitive pressure.’


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