Smuggling of contraband especially narcotics is not uncommon along the US/Mexican border by rail, by truck and by other means. An easy method to smuggle contraband is to take advantage of seals which are vulnerable to being tampered and defeated. Tampering the seal allows the smuggler to introduce narcotics into a cargo hold, re-seal using the original seal and seal number, and then collect his goods at an opportune time on the other side of the border. Again, an easily tampered seal allows re-entry into the cargo hold to retrieve illegally transported goods and then re-seal in order to not be discovered.
Taking advantage of poorly designed seals is not limited to smuggling. They also lend themselves to other clandestine entry issues such as theft. Are your containers or rail cars often short just a carton or two? Enough theft to cause a claim but not enough to raise an eyebrow? Employees and third party individuals with time and opportunity are also very aware of the advantages that poorly designed seals offer.
Have you ever heard of anyone playing with a plastic seal on the mini-bar in their hotel room? Tricking that seal often can produce a free candy bar or a bag of nuts. Clandestine cargo entry by way of ineffectual seals, produces great results in the same way for the average thief. Why ruin a good thing by destroying the seal or removing it entirely? Why bring attention to yourself? it is better to play the seal for all it is worth, re-seal the cargo hold...and nobody is the wiser. What is the big deal anyway? The shipper can afford a few boxes here and there...right?
If clandestine entry or smuggling has visited your supply chain why not review the easiest way for a criminal to take advantage by way of the seal? Seals may be a small detail but they can mean the difference between a secure supply chain and those pesky ongoing claims which none of your consultants can seem to make go away.
If you have smuggling or theft issues which fit this explanation, why not give the security experts a call? If we reveal more about it here, we only stand to help the bad guys or the consultants which often borrow our intellectual property. We would love to tell you more about the disadvantages to poorly designed seals, so why not give us a call? Remember, unlike the "other" manufacturers that push seals to make a sale, we not only design and manufacture seals but we also assist many of our clients strictly with supply chain security education. Other manufacturers also rest on their 50-100 year old patents. Our designs and patents are constantly being reviewed and updated to stay ahead of the bad guys. It is true what they say, better seals do make for better security.
