The global shipping of illegal substances is a sophisticated criminal enterprise involving 

transnational criminal organizations, diverse trafficking methods (maritime, air, postal, darknet), and significant global law enforcement efforts to interdict them. 

Overview of Global Trafficking

Drug trafficking is the illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of substances that are subject to drug prohibition laws. It is a high-value criminal commodity, with the illegal drug trade estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually. 

Key aspects include:

• Major Drugs Trafficked: While cannabis is widely trafficked, substances like fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine are currently primary concerns for law enforcement in the U.S. and other nations.
• Primary Methods: Traffickers use a variety of complex schemes, including leveraging legal supply chains, the global container shipping business, air transport, and postal services.
• Anonymity: Criminals utilize the scale of global trade, darknet marketplaces, and encrypted communication to evade detection. 

Shipping Methods and Routes

Illegal substances are moved globally through various channels: 

• Maritime Shipping: The vast majority of cocaine is transported at some point by sea, with an estimated 90% of the cocaine produced in the Andean region of South America moved via maritime routes. Criminal organizations exploit the volume of container traffic, making it difficult for officials to inspect all cargo.
• Postal and Courier Services: Illegal drugs, particularly synthetic opioids like fentanyl, are often shipped via international mail and courier services, sometimes disguised as other goods like “dog food” or “motor oil”. Law enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actively combat these methods.
• Air Transport: Drugs are smuggled by air, often through passenger luggage, air cargo, or private aircraft.
• Land Routes: For countries with shared borders, substances are moved through tunnels, on trucks, or by individuals (mules). 

Global Response

Addressing global drug trafficking requires international cooperation, coordination, and communication among law enforcement, border control, and the private sector. 

• International Operations: Organizations such as the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organize global operations, like “Operation TIN CAN,” to crack down on organized crime in the supply chain.
• Penalties: Knowingly engaging in the mailing or shipping of illegal and dangerous materials can result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment. 

For more information, reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime provide detailed analyses on global trends and trafficking routes.