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PODCAST SEASON
Combating human trafficking in Asian supply chains – a network of organised illicit crime
TAPA APAC’s latest podcast invited Richard Carrick, Chief Executive Director of Crime Stoppers Asia, to share his knowledge on human trafficking in supply chains and its linkage with larger networks of organized crime. The broadcast was hosted by Steve Mullins, the TAPA APAC Board Member focusing on Regional Law Enforcement Liaison and Trade Compliance…
Post-COVID impact on manufacturing & human trafficking
With nations still under social distancing laws and remote workforce arrangements, COVID-19 continues to drive high demand for products such as food items and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). While this has brought about greater focus on manufacturing, it has also given rise to increased slavery operations and trafficking schemes to reap profits from high-value, in- demand items. Often, these slavery operations are masked under manufacturing activities and remain unnoticed for long periods of time.
Richard explained the gaps in global supply chains, stating: “It is hard to get visibility of slavery operations happening on the ground. For instance, a truck driver may pick up something from a factory but may notice that he never sees the workers there. Another scenario could be that the driver is picking up a lot more cargo than usual that is not consistent to the number of staff there, meaning that they are working for longer than required hours.” When asked about methods to identify slavery operations, he emphasized the need to review the possible security and
visibility gaps depending on the mode of transportation – road, air or sea. As a first step, companies should look at case typologies provided by law enforcement agencies and NGOs to apply to their own businesses.
A larger network of illicit crime behind human trafficking
Human trafficking is often part of bigger illicit crime activities using global supply chains, such as drug smuggling, wildlife trading, and trade in counterfeit products. Proceeds from one operation are commonly used to fund these other types of money laundering crimes. For example, payments for drugs are often masked as employee wages. Companies must pay attention to financial red flags, including over-invoicing, under-invoicing, reuse of invoices, and phantom shipments, he said.
Anonymous crime reporting & information sharing within the supply chain industry
“The best approach is to work with law enforcement agencies, industry partners and NGOs to collect and analyze information and data, and, thereafter, to provide output to law enforcement partners,” Richard explained.
When companies report crime incidents to industry associations and NGOs like TAPA and CSI, the information provided is sanitized and verified before sharing with law enforcement agencies. TAPA’s Incident Information Service (IIS) also provides immediate email ‘alerts’ to members and collects incident data for mapping and analysis. The IIS mapping tool is also shared among members and law enforcement agencies to address gaps in surveillance and security procedures to develop more effective warning systems for early detection and recovery. Companies should build risk-compliant and resilient supply chains following globally-recognized security standards and work only with certified supply chain partners.
As a whole industry with key security measures and information sharing, we can make tracking down of human trafficking and other major cargo crimes a priority for local police forces, regional law enforcement agencies, and governments in Asia, he added.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST REPLAY NOW
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