WCO REPORT ON INFILTRATION OF MARITIME CARGO SUPPLY CHAINS
On 26 June, the Parliament and Council On 17 July, the World Customs Organization (WCO) released a major report entitled “Infiltration of Maritime Cargo Supply Chains: Organized Crime, Cocaine and the Internal Conspirators.” The report, produced under the WCO/Australian Border Force Supply Chain Integrity Project, provides an alarming and detailed analysis of 2,600 drug seizures globally, underscoring the scale and sophistication of criminal infiltration in maritime logistics.
According to the findings, internal conspirators, individuals working within the maritime cargo supply chain, played a role in approximately 68% of the analysed seizures, involving an estimated 548.5 tonnes of drugs. Shipping containers remain the primary vector, accounting for 85% of incidents and 80% of all volumes seized. While cocaine trafficking continues to dominate, smuggling methodologies are rapidly evolving: from rip-on/rip-off concealments and tampered containers, to underwater hull attachments and coordinated at-sea drops. Criminal groups have also been reported to use GPS trackers and drones to support trafficking operations.
The report highlights how ports, container depots, and empty container yards are increasingly targeted due to their procedural and security vulnerabilities. Legitimate companies risk reputational and legal consequences from being unknowingly implicated in trafficking operations. The report notes a particular rise in smaller, high-frequency concealments involving reefer containers—particularly in the banana trade—with internal conspirators leveraging access to container logistics systems and exploiting weak points far beyond traditional border controls.
The WCO stresses the need for strengthened international cooperation, smarter targeting regimes that go beyond conventional import declarations, and deeper partnerships with the private sector. The report also calls for a broader shift in mindset: from viewing supply chain security as the sole responsibility of customs to recognising it as a shared obligation involving all parties, from shipping lines to port terminal operators and logistics providers.
The full report is available here.