Organized Crime Legitimized Via Supply Chains

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Organized crime groups are increasingly exploiting the global maritime supply chain to smuggle drugs, secreting illicit cargo within an otherwise legitimate container trade route.  According to industry experts, limited inspection rates and heavy reliance on self-reported cargo manifests allow for significant vulnerabilities that criminal networks have grown adept at exploiting.  Only a small fraction of containers are physically screened, allowing traffickers to move narcotics across borders with relative ease.

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A study by the World Customs Organization (WCO) found that 70% of the 2,600 drug seizures occurring between 2023-2024 had a “trusted insider” assisting the smugglers, increasing the need for modernization of current laws.

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As traffickers shift away from small vessels toward commercial shipping routes, risks increase for shipowners, operators, crews, and insurers. The growing sophistication of these networks reinforces the need for stronger cooperation, improved intelligence sharing, and enhanced security measures across the maritime industry.

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Read more at Seatrade Maritime