04/09/2026
Customs & Trade alert: Smuggling, piggybacking and a history of government intervention in the supply chain
There is a long history of government intervention in international supply chains for a variety of reasons, whether related to the conduct of war, recovery of various duties, public safety controls or the protection of national interests. Smuggling is as old as the very first trade regulations and taxes.
Various forms of smuggling can be traced back to medieval times, likely beginning with the illicit export of English wool to France. These exports were subject to substantial customs duties imposed to finance English military campaigns. Reportedly, the illicit export of wool was originally known as ‘owling’ as it was conducted solely at night.
A further historical example relates to the illicit importation of French lace, wh***ey and other goods that were subject to import duties. These goods were smuggled into England in ways intended to avoid border officials in place to recover duties. Such smuggling has often been romanticised in films ,with goods arriving on English beaches late at night and being moved under candlelight to ‘secret’ premises before being made available for sale.
Over time, smuggling and evasion of different government controls at the border have changed as public interest have evolved.
The ‘slave trade’ has evolved into ‘people smuggling’ and controls at the border have changed depending on the products the subject of government interests. Those in the supply chain who facilitate these actions are known variously as ‘bad actors’ and ‘trusted insiders’ and are within both the private sector and government employees.
In our latest Custom & Trade alert, Andrew Hudson explores the long history of government intervention in international supply chains and traces the evolution of smuggling from medieval customs evasion to modern concerns such as illicit to***co imports and piggybacking. He examines the Australian Border Force's (ABF) increasing focus on supply chain participants, including licensed customs brokers and freight forwarders, and outlines the ABF's expectations for due diligence, verification, compliance and reporting to help combat illicit trade and protect the integrity of the border.
Read more >> https://www.rigbycooke.com.au/smuggling-piggybacking-and-a-history-of-government-intervention-in-the-supply-chain/
If you would like advice on customs compliance, supply chain risk management or responding to regulatory investigations, please contact a member of our Customs & Trade team below:
Andrew Hudson, Partner, on +61 3 9321 7851
Gigi Hancock, Lawyer, on +61 3 9321 7806
A version of this article was published in the Daily Newswire by The DCN.
In our latest Customs & Trade alert, Andrew Hudson looks into the long history of government intervention in the international supply chain, undertaken for a variety of reasons, whether related to the conduct of war, recovery of various duties, as controls for public safety or intended to protect na...
