Smuggling Goods By Boat: A Step-By-Step Guide

Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information, or people across a border. It has a long and controversial history, dating back to the first time duties were imposed. In the context of boats, smuggling often involves using small, fast vessels to evade detection and interception by law enforcement. These vessels, known as go-fast boats, employ speed as their primary means of evading capture, zipping along at high speeds and approaching coastlines at night to avoid detection. The choice of vessel and route depends on the type of goods being smuggled and the level of law enforcement presence in the area.

Using a go-fast boat

When using a go-fast boat for smuggling, here are some key considerations and instructions to keep in mind:

• Boat Choice: Choose a go-fast boat model that suits your needs. Cigarette boats, for example, are long and narrow, designed for maximum speed. Catamarans offer high-speed stability and can maintain speed in choppy waters. Consider the terrain and conditions you'll be navigating to select the most suitable type.
• Speed and Agility: Go-fast boats can quickly cover large distances, allowing you to move your smuggled goods swiftly. Their agility also enables you to navigate through rough waters and make sharp turns if needed to evade pursuit.
• Practice and Skills: Operating a go-fast boat requires specific skills. Ensure that you or your crew have the necessary training and experience to handle the boat safely and effectively. Practice in controlled environments to familiarize yourself with the boat's capabilities and handling.
• Route Planning: Carefully plan your smuggling route, taking into account the terrain, weather conditions, and potential interception points. Avoid busy waterways, and choose routes that provide cover or allow you to take advantage of the boat's speed and manoeuvrability.
• Contraband Storage: Ensure that your contraband is securely stored and concealed on the boat. Consider the weight and volume of the smuggled goods and distribute them evenly to maintain the boat's balance and optimize performance.
• Evasion Strategies: Be prepared to employ evasion tactics if spotted by authorities. Use the boat's speed to your advantage, and be ready to make sudden manoeuvres to lose any pursuit. If necessary, be prepared to abandon the boat and contraband to avoid capture, as authorities will board and confiscate any contraband if they manage to intercept you.

Evading border checks

Another tactic is to conceal the smuggled goods or people within a larger shipment or vehicle. This can be done by hiding items in secret compartments in door panels, roofs, gas tanks, tires, or even engines of vehicles. For those travelling by air, drugs or contraband can be hidden in luggage, taped to the body, or even ingested. For smugglers travelling by sea, the use of containers or unseaworthy boats can maximize the "cargo" being transported, although this often endangers the lives of those being smuggled.

Furthermore, the use of decoys or distractions can divert attention away from the smuggled goods. For instance, drug smugglers have been known to throw large sacks of narcotics over border walls, creating a distraction and potentially injuring those nearby. Additionally, the use of false or stolen passports, or illegally altered documents, can help individuals cross borders without raising suspicion.

The choice of route is also critical in evading border checks. Smugglers may take advantage of certain border policies or weaknesses in border control, often making last-minute changes to their itinerary. For instance, in response to increased enforcement on the Western Mediterranean Route between Morocco and mainland Spain, smugglers have shifted to alternative routes, such as travelling from Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania, and Morocco to the Canary Islands.

Finally, corruption and cooperation from officials can significantly aid in evading border checks. Smugglers often rely on corrupt customs officers or border patrol agents who are willing to turn a blind eye or accept bribes in exchange for allowing illegal goods or people to pass through.

Hiding goods in a vehicle

• Concealing goods on a person's clothing, luggage, or inside a body cavity.
• Hiding goods in the vehicle itself, such as in a car battery, shampoo bottle, or spare tyre.
• Submitting to border checks with goods hidden in the vehicle, such as in luggage, under clothes, or inside the body.
• Transporting goods in shipping containers, trains, trucks, and cars.
• Using regularly scheduled airlines to fly goods in cargo planes.

Smugglers often use a combination of their own experience and sophisticated equipment to avoid detection. For example, customs inspectors use giant X-ray machines to search for contraband inside vehicles and electrovacuum devices that can detect the presence of drugs or explosives.

When it comes to boats specifically, smugglers typically approach the coast at night, travelling in speed boats at high speeds. To combat this, the U.S. Customs Service has its own fleet of high-speed boats to pursue and intercept smugglers.

In addition to hiding goods in vehicles, smugglers also use alternative methods such as trained animals like dogs and pigeons, and even people acting as couriers, to transport contraband.

Using a false passport

False passports and ID cards allow smugglers to travel from remote production centres to lucrative urban markets, cross borders, send bulk shipments through vulnerable ports of entry, launder money, and evade law enforcement. They can also be used to create bank accounts to launder money and buy legal assets, to extort victims and gain access to secret information, and to rent safe houses, hire vehicles, and set up shell companies.

Drug smugglers sometimes create fake passports and ID cards on an industrial scale, generating thousands of altered, forged, or counterfeited documents. However, criminals can easily exploit gaps and loopholes in outdated or insufficiently secure identity documents. To combat this, countries should employ the newest security features and adapt a layered security approach to the design of their identity documents.

It is not only drug smugglers who use false passports. Nine percent of human trafficking victims are transported using fake passports and ID cards.

Smuggling people

Choose the right boat: Select a vessel that is seaworthy, fast enough to outmaneuver potential interceptors, and has sufficient space to accommodate the number of people being smuggled. Ensure the boat is well-maintained and has enough fuel for the journey.

Plan the route: Study the coastal borders and choose a route that avoids heavily patrolled areas and areas with high border patrol activity. Identify potential landing spots along the route where the boat can refuel, restock supplies, or make repairs if needed.

Prepare the boat: Modify the boat to reduce its visibility, such as removing or altering any distinctive markings or features that could make it easily identifiable. Ensure the boat has essential navigation equipment, communication devices, and emergency supplies.

Gather a skilled crew: Assemble a small, trusted crew who are experienced sailors and familiar with the chosen route. Ensure they are aware of the risks and have the necessary skills to handle the boat, navigate, and address any potential issues that may arise during the journey.

Conceal the people being smuggled: Find suitable hiding places on the boat, such as compartments, cargo areas, or areas below deck, where people can remain hidden from authorities. Ensure they have adequate ventilation, food, water, and other necessary provisions for the journey.

Coordinate with land-based contacts: Establish a network of contacts on land who can provide updates on border patrol activity, weather conditions, and potential hazards along the route. Arrange for them to meet the boat at predetermined locations to provide additional supplies or assistance if needed.

Execute the journey: Depart at night, preferably under the cover of darkness, and maintain a low profile. Stay vigilant, and be prepared to alter the route or take evasive action if there is a risk of detection by law enforcement or border patrol vessels.

By following these steps, smugglers can increase their chances of successfully transporting people by boat while minimizing the risk of interception and ensuring the safety and well-being of those on board. However, it is important to note that smuggling people is a dangerous and illegal activity that can have severe consequences, including endangering the lives of those being smuggled and facing criminal charges if apprehended by authorities.

Frequently asked questions