This article dealt with cargo crime from the perspective of European countries. Cargo crime effects the global economy with losses estimated at $25-50 billion annually. Cargo crimes, such as robbery and hijacking, often go unreported and those that are reported can be lost causes as a country can do nothing when the robber crosses boarders. The largest, 85% of cases, involves trucking that end in the theft of such industries as “high tech, pharmaceuticals, tobacco and alcohol and retail.” The rise of violence against truck drivers themselves poses another crime on top of cargo theft. If truck drivers become too scarce because of physical threats to them by pirates, it will only further cause the global economy loss. The Transport Asset Protection Association believes that only government agencies acting together with law enforcement is the first step towards controlling cargo thefts. Also, companies labeling the cargo to identify it if it is stolen or just to deter criminals from targeting it may help. All agree that the government needs to intervene because hotspots arise and are sought out by these criminals.
I believe that with such big losses to the global economy, governments should definitely step in to prevent cargo theft. Although this article centered around Europe, cargo robbery hits closer to home than we like to let ourselves believe, effecting everyone. As an interviewee in the article pointed out, it is not just about the protection of a shipment, but the safety of the ones making the journey with it that should also be looked after. If an intervention does not happen soon, the gap between our modern system of transportation and that during the days which traditional pirates roamed will close.
Original article by Reuters and posted on Google News
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4694491a12.html
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