Part 5/13:
Shipping Routes and Checks: A Surface-Level Barrier
Shipping ports, including those in New Zealand and other Pacific nations, have minimal checks—only about 1-8% of containers are inspected globally, with even less scrutiny in remote regions. This lax oversight creates a loophole allowing vast quantities of drugs to pass through undetected. Authorities like customs officials reveal that in many cases, verifying every container or vessel is unrealistic, given resource constraints and the volume of global trade.