Replacement Of Goods In Containers
REPLACEMENT OF GOODS IN CONTAINERS
AS DETECT AND PREVENT THEM
In the same decade of the 1960s in which the Internet took its first steps, a metal box that had little digital in it also appeared on the scene, but without which globalization and e-commerce would hardly have reached the level they have today. .
We are obviously not referring to the protagonist of this report: the container.
The container not only did the Internet facilitate the exponential growth of international trade, but it also contributed to reducing accidents due to breakages in international transport to a minimum.
Although the accident frequency decreased dramatically, the intensity did not decrease as a result of the greater value transported within the container and the enormous accumulation on ships whose capacity to transport them continues to increase.
The large economic losses of containerized cargo come mostly from the risks emerging from the maritime adventure itself, such as sinking or falling into the sea due to bad weather.
Outside of these “catastrophic” incidents, there are two types of crime that affect containerized merchandise with some frequency: theft and/or substitution of merchandise.
Let’s look at these modalities in more detail:
Theft cases can occur both in port facilities and during land transportation before or after the sea crossing.
There is no history of theft on board, except in very exceptional cases.
These are usually shipments of high commercial value, on which criminals have done prior intelligence and know precisely what merchandise it is.
In this article we are going to deal with the other modality that affects cargo in containers, we do not refer to theSUBSTITUTIONS.
Substitutions of merchandise for others of lower value are used to disguise the theft of the original cargo or to defraud insurance by claiming losses of cargo of higher value.
Although the most worrying in certain markets is the introduction of contraband merchandise, narcotics or other illegal merchandise in legal shipments.
The complex thing about this last modality is that any container, regardless of the value of the cargo it transports, can be attractive to commit this crime.
To properly understand how to discourage or prevent this specific crime, it is important to first understand in more detail the weak points of the closing mechanisms and the seals that are commonly used to warn of improper openings.
Closing system
The container closing systems were designed to guarantee the tightness of the container as well as to make it as difficult as possible to open it improperly or illegally.
Although at first glance it seems like an impregnable system, the truth is that it has ways of being violated, both in a sophisticated way with which they manage to extract the doors without violating the seals and also in a more intrusive way by opening a hole in one side or in the floor, then hidden, especially in containers of a certain age.
The seals
The seals are numbered and can be placed by both the shipper and the customs authorities in order to reveal an improper opening in case it is damaged or replaced by another.
Its numbering is identified in all the usual shipping documentation for both security and fiscal purposes as it is part of customs requirements.
Now, in truth, the purpose of the seal, even the most sophisticated, was never to prevent the opening of the container but rather to leave traces of an improper opening that would allow pertinent precautions to be taken against a possible theft and/or substitution of the merchandise. embarked
Even the most robust models can be manipulated with various techniques without leaving any trace; it has even been shown that it is possible to remove the container doors without touching the seal.
What to do to prevent and detect improper opening?
Consolidation control
Having a document with images that prove the quantity and disposition of the merchandise shipped is a key element.
Ideally, this certification should be carried out by an independent certification company, although it is also acceptable for it to be carried out by the shipper himself, especially when he is a recognized operator.
This certificate will allow any anomaly to be detected and, in the event of shortages or damages, facilitate recovery action against those responsible.
Weight declaration
Controlling the weight of the container prior to removal from the destination port is a simple but very effective measure, but it requires that the weight information declared in the shipping documentation be very precise.
Although it may attract attention, it is common for shipping documentation to not accurately indicate the weight of the transported cargo, which in addition to representing a risk for carriers makes it difficult to detect possible shortages.
Seal verification
Although, as we noted above, the main function of the seal is not to discourage opening, it is recommended to use those that make it difficult to manipulate or allow it to be detected.
A thorough inspection of the seal is extremely important to detect possible tampering.
The most common in bottle-type seals, for example, is that once opened they are glued back on and they stop rotating. The brass ones must be given a pull since their violation is usually hidden with glue.
Technological devices
Currently there is a very wide range of technology-based devices that, when used correctly, contribute extremely effectively to the prevention of improper openings.
We can find a wide variety of electronic seals and padlocks that alert about any opening,
It should be noted that their constant sophistication is accompanied by a significant reduction in costs, which allows their use in all types of loads, even low-value ones.
Now, for the specific case that does not concern us, such as preventing the illicit substitution of merchandise, we recommend the use of devices that detect light.
The use of these devices will allow us to receive container opening alerts, in any of the modalities described above.
For more information on this topic or another related to logistical risks, we recommend visiting our website wwww.asisistcargo.com where you can coordinate an advisory interview with our specialists free of charge.
