Regular readers will know we try to keep them informed of all the cases involving shipping agencies and freight forwarding groups which have been charged or convicted of offences which bring the name of the logistics industry into disrepute. Many however still fail to realise the implications of operating or conspiring to operate a cartel or, worse still, the penalties which can be incurred for smuggling or the illegal transport of sensitive items.
The recent news that five well known freight forwarding operators have now been effectively banned from any association with potentially lucrative US Government contracts may serve as a wake up call to any who have become complacent about how they do business. At a time when every agent is trying to optimise profits the temptation to collude on rates or to turn a blind eye to cargo with possible criminal consequences for the carriers is much greater.
The five banned freight forwarders have all previously undertaken significant amounts of work directly or indirectly for the US Government and their debarment means they will be excluded from any contracts, particularly defence contracts and are ineligible to participate in works concerning U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), which is the agency that administers the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) unless matters of foreign policy or US national security interests make it imperative, a highly unlikely scenario.
|
