The role of transport networks in any country cannot be underestimated. The main transport networks that are used all over the world include road, air, water, and rail transport. The various transport systems have been responsible for opening up the interior of most countries. Individuals such as farmers can transport their produce to the markets. In fact, experts emphasize that transport network coverage is commensurate with the economic development of any region. Even more important is cross-border transport where citizens from different countries can visit and carry out various transactions in different countries. With globalization happening on a large scale currently, individuals can travel to almost any part of the world and work (Walkenhorst & Dihel, 2016). Besides, there is a lot of businesses transactions currently happening in different countries. More countries are opening up their borders and allowing interaction of their citizens with those from other states. Even more important is the need for foreign currency. Countries cannot fully sustain themselves by relying on the local market. They must thus seek the global market to sell their goods and services (Longley, 2017). Also, the global population is rising hence there is the need for individuals to look for better opportunities in places they perceive to offer the best chance of succeeding in life. All the movement must involve transport systems.
Nevertheless, the buzz of activities throughout the world has come with severe implications. Some individuals take advantage of the loopholes in the transport system to engage in unlawful activities. Occurrences of terrorists as well as illegal activities continue to be reported each year (Quinlan, Johnstone & Mayhew, 2016). It seems that as more countries open up their border points, illegal activities continue to escalate. This essay investigates some of the challenges that arise out of the transport systems as well as the cost of logistics incurred in trying to curb the activities.
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First, it is imperative to categorize the challenges that the transport system experiences. Through the transport system, illegal goods such as harmful drugs and firearms can be sneaked within borders. In the US, major concerns have arisen on its border with Mexico. The Mexican border has raised political temperatures with even the US president, Donald Trump proposing to construct a wall at the point (Walkenhorst & Dihel, 2016). Loopholes in the transport industry are exploited to ferry firearms especially to war-torn countries like those in Africa. Poachers have also been found with animal products like tusks and skins which are always disguised as other goods. Also, unscrupulous business people ferry contraband goods across borders without suspecting.
Some of the attacks may be direct. Militiamen could plan for attacks on military lorries to seize weapons. Reports have also emerged of fighter groups attacking caravans of aid supplies destined to various refugee camps. Sometimes stakeholders are forced to drop relief food to refugees from the air for fear of being attacked on the ground. When terrorists strike, they mainly target transport centers due to the many people that are always present. A prominent example is the Madrid train bombings in 2004 as well as the 2005 London bus bombings that led to the death of 191 and 52 people respectively (Boudi & Ghazel, 2016). Transport terminals are often crowded and are seen as good targets by terrorists.
The most mode of transport that is affected by terrorist activities is the air transport. Various prominent cases exist of air transport hijackings and bombings. The most famous plane hijackings happened in the US whereby nineteen terrorists hijacked four planes during the 9/11 attack. Out of the four aircrafts, three were used to carry missile for the suicide bombing of buildings. Perhaps the longest hijacking incident happened in 1999 when an Indian Airline Flight 814 was hijacked by a Pakistan-based terrorist group (Thomas, 2013). The hijacking lasted for several days and landed in places such as Lahore, Dubai, Amritsar as well as Kandahar.
The most mysterious events that have happened to the airline industry concerns the disappearance of planes without being traced. The most recent occurrence is the disappearance of the Malaysian aircraft MH370 that was carrying 239 passengers (Aggarwala, Fenello & FitzGerald, 2016). People can only speculate about the whereabouts of the plane, and even experienced aviation experts cannot explain. In 2003, a Boeing 727-223 aircraft was allegedly stolen from the Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola. It is reported that neither of the two people who hijacked it had enough skills to fly the plane. Up to now, the jet and the two men have never been found. The most mysterious plane disappearances happened in 1945 when five US Navy Avenger torpedo bombers vanished over the Bermuda triangle. Questions still linger up to this moment as to what may have happened to lead to the disappearance of all the five fighter jets. If it were a mechanical break-down, not all the planes would have crashed.
Measures have been put in place especially at water terminals, border points as well as air terminals. Thorough screening is done to ensure that illegal items do not enter or exit the country. In some instances, lethal weapons have been impounded and thus major attacks thwarted. However, it is not possible to screen and stop the occurrence of all terrorist activities. As much as countries are using advanced technology to conduct screening, terrorists too are looking for loopholes to carry out attacks. For example, major airports are too busy to pay attention to details. The employees are usually in a hurry to meet specific timelines hence it may be difficult to do proper screening on all the cargo.
However, the main cause of attacks and movement of illegal items has been linked to logistics. Scholars define logistics as the steps involved in planning, implementing as well as controlling processes for the efficient movement and storage of goods and services from the origin point to the point of consumption (Notteboom & Winkelmans, 2012). Initially, logistics was an activity of the military that ensured that soldiers and their munitions get to the battle in time. The term is applied in the modern corporate world extensively. Managing the transport sector is often expensive. It is always not possible to install screening equipment in every corner of transport terminals. The cost of buying such equipment cannot be covered by the revenue generated from the transport services (Bowersox, Closs & Cooper, 2012). Additionally, hiring more personnel to do the screening requires more expenses on salaries, an aspect that many transport companies cannot afford (Srinivas & Srinivas, 2014). Similarly, conducting training sessions for security personnel on modern techniques of dealing with insecurity is expensive (Gourdin, 2016). Pertaining the disappearance of planes, very little action can be taken. Although modern communication gadgets are fitted on planes for the pilot to communicate in case problems arise, some disasters often take pilots by surprise making it difficult for them to respond.
However, the Departments of Transport and Homeland Security in the US through Code of Federal Regulation Title 49 enforce various measures regarding transport and logistics. CFR Title 49 lays down rules and regulations that all stakeholders in the transport industry should adhere to (GPO, 2017). Under CFR Title 49, the procedure in regards to the prosecution of individuals who go against the laid down measures is provided. Nonetheless, the code mainly deals with petty criminals who engage in activities like theft of goods that are in transit, smugglers, and dealers of contraband goods, among others. There are no clear guidelines on what should be done to terrorists. Little emphasis is put on curbing domestic transport insecurity forgetting that terrorist attacks on the transport sector from external groups are more lethal. When they occur, there are always huge economic implications. Air terminals may be forced to close for long periods due to the damage on its facilities. Business people, as well as tourists, may stop visiting the affected places. All these factors translate to low business hence reduced economic growth.
The main problem that the research will address will be the undesirable consequences that come with the various modes of transport. As noted, although the various means of transport have been credited with the opening of markets for movement of goods and services, numerous problems arise. Such challenges include terrorism, theft, and smuggling of illegal drugs. Mysterious accounts such as the disappearance of aircrafts have been reported. Even as the various stakeholders try to institute stringent measures at different transport terminals, still loopholes exist. The main problem is that there are not enough resources to guarantee a 100 percent secure transport network. The research paper will examine the existing literature to find out what other researchers have written about the issue of insecurity in the transport sector. After that, the research paper will compare some of the methodologies that have been suggested and applied to address the issue of insecurity. Lastly, the research paper will provide appropriate recommendations on what needs to be done to curb the issue under investigation.
To conclude, as the world becomes more connected, the movement of goods and people also goes on the rise. However, there are individuals with hidden agenda, which is to exploit people as well as cause atrocities. It is the reason why the research paper will attempt to come up with the best possible way of keeping such activities at a minimum. The transport networks ought to make economies thrive and not collapse.
References
Aggarwala, N., Fenello, M. J., & FitzGerald, G. F. (2016). Air hijacking: an international perspective (No. 585). Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Boudi, Z., & Ghazel, M. (2016). The New Challenges of Rail Security. Journal of Traffic and Logistics Engineering , 5p.
Bowersox, D. J., Closs, D. J., & Cooper, M. B. (2012). Supply chain logistics management (Vol. 2). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Gourdin, K. (2016). Global logistics management: a competitive advantage for the 21st century . Wiley-Blackwell.
GPO, U. (2017). United States Code Annotated Title 49–Transportation §§ . 44101-end. St. Paul, MN: West. Lu , 49 .
Longley, H. N. (2017). Common Carriage of Cargo . M. Bender.
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Srinivas, T., & Srinivas, M. (2014). The role of transportation in logistics chain. Indian J. Math. Math. Sci.(IJMMS) , 4 (2), 75-82.
Thomas, A. R. (2013). Aviation insecurity: The new challenges of air travel . Prometheus Books.
Walkenhorst, P., & Dihel, N. (2016). Trade impacts of increased border security concerns. The International Trade Journal , 20 (1), 1-31.
