In the world of trucking contraband, illicit cargo doesn’t always drive past the border. Sometimes it slithers.
In a truly bizarre case, a trucker was recently apprehended for transporting 39 live pythons illegally.
As more and more carriers try to enter the industry, many are finding that this story is indicative of a greater truth: freight is dealing with more snakes, or freight crime, than ever before.
Here’s the story.
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39 Live Pythons Were Unlawfully Transported
When U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a Mexico-bound trucker for a routine inspection, the driver insisted that nothing prohibited was onboard.
When officers took a closer look, they were astonished to discover 39 pythons, each individually bagged, stowed away in the cab. The snakes were in poor condition.
While it’s unclear whether the driver was unaware of the cargo, he was still fined $34,824 for export violations. His vehicle was also detained while the investigation continues.
How Criminals Use Carriers to Move Trucking Contraband
More and more carriers are becoming victims of an alarming trend, a scheme that makes truckers “blind mules”, an unwitting aid to the transportation of trucking contraband.
Criminals can make carriers their accomplices in a few ways:
- Some criminals will attach contraband to the underside of a truck using magnets. Using an attached GPS, they will then track the freight and remove the contraband after it has been safely transported.
- Criminals will pose as repairmen and install illicit materials into the body of the truck.
- Using nefarious sleight of hand, some criminals will pack fraudulent freight once a trucker steps away.
Tragically, many truckers can land in hot water even if they are oblivious to their involvement.
Repercussions for Truckers Who Act as Blind Mules
Even in their innocence, truckers can face a nightmare of consequences when transporting trucking contraband.
As was the case with the trucker transporting pythons, the consequences were immediate despite no verdict being made:
- Heavy fines
- Potential misdemeanor charges
- Vehicle seizures
- Reputation damage can create a lifelong insurance problem.
These penalties can derail a trucker’s career.
How Carriers Can Protect Themselves
The very best way to prevent becoming a blind mule is to prepare for the worst.
If you are ever moving cross-border, it’s critical to perform this inspection checklist for your truck before you set out:
- Check under the trailer at every stop. This is the easiest way to ensure you haven’t picked up any unwanted hitchhikers.
- After having repairs done, closely inspect any patchwork that seems out of place. If there are any signs of work done on areas that you didn’t request, that’s an immediate red flag.
- Never neglect external storage areas, such as chain boxes or tire covers. These are often a criminal’s first pick for their accessibility.
- Verify that cargo seals are intact upon departure. This is a staple of security hygiene.
Additionally, there are several checks with the shipper you’ll want to make before departure.
- Always verify the shipper’s identity through FMCSA records. This one step can prevent miles of fraud.
- In a similar vein, cross-check the BOLs as an additional precautionary measure.
- If there are ever sudden load changes, it’s best to approach them with skepticism. If the shipper is ardent and putting pressure on you, it’s best to relinquish the load altogether.
Freight crime continues to grow in its scope and complexity. Even as pythons mark the constriction of crime on the market, carriers need to exercise more care than ever to avoid becoming mules for criminals.
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