Categories: Pangolin Scales

Legal TCM is distributed legally in China and Southeast Asia.

Integration of the illegal contraband into the legal market takes place through the production of TCM in China.

The scales are further smuggled into China in smaller batches (possibly by land).

Upon reaching destination, the contraband is distributed to safe locations.

Depending on the Bill of Lading details, the carrier will deliver the container at the port of discharge – where the consignee or the consignee’s transport company will take over – or to a place of delivery elsewhere in the country Vulnerability 5 The delivery address might not be formally associated with the declared consignee.

At transit ports where the carrier operates, the Bill of Lading might be legitimately switched – replaced by a new one – with completely dierent details than the original one. The container might even be unloaded from one vessel and loaded onto another. Vulnerability 4 This lawful procedure – used legitimately for commercial reasons –...

The container is transported to the port and loaded onto the vessel by the carrier. Vulnerability 3 The vessel owner cannot control whether the Bill of Lading matches the contents of the container. Customs authorities do have this power, but they do not inspect every container, instead they rely on targeted inspections.

A Bill of Lading is issued to ship the container loaded with the consignment to Asia: Cargo, container, consignor, consignee and carrier details are included in the document. Vulnerability 2 There is no requirement to declare the ownership of the cargo.

A container is loaded with both legal and illegal products outside of the port, unique-coded seals are placed on the locks of the container. Vulnerability 1 The loading and placing of the seals can be carried out by the consignor (the party interested in sending the cargo), the carrier (shipping company, freight forwarder or non-vessel...

Criminal networks use a legal supply of commodities – usually agricultural produce, timber or plastic waste – to conceal the contraband. The contraband is consolidated and packed usually in plastic sacks.

The contraband is consolidated and packed usually in plastic sacks.

Transportation is arranged to consolidation locations.