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Travi's avatar

Great post. The Philly case in particular shows how much illegal cargo, may pad legal bottom lines.

But unfortunately, the trade disruption required for even a 25% physical verification or open Bay exam, would cripple the US supply chains. The easy answer, doesn't come with an easy price.

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Brian Harris's avatar

Thank you, glad you liked the post; and I think you're absolutely correct about how difficult this problem really is and the problems that would stem from upping the inspections

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Travi's avatar

Absolutely! Also, The Wire Season 2 takes on a fictional aspect of illegal container trade. Its dated -- but that season came out in 2002 or 2003. It was ahead of the curve for what CSI would become.

Granted -- DHS's vision for CSI was for more US-bound container inspections at source countries. But the volume is just too great. Add in large-scale automation, and you have an endemic vector for compromise.

Even in the curret tarriff debates, inspections should be a bargaining tool and they aren't.

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Brian Harris's avatar

I've never actually seen the wire, but have heard a lot of really good things, might have to give it a watch.

And yes, this is a pretty big problem that is long overdue for a resolution

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