The new trend in travel appears to be organic luggage. Customs officers in Amsterdam stumbled upon what appeared to be your typical insect collection, but upon closer inspection (really close), the officials found yet another one of Mother Nature's products - cocaine. All told, they found about 300 grams inside the hard exoskeletons of about 100 dead beetles. "Let's put it in these giant dead bugs, man! They won't get anyone's attention."
Implications - The days when drug mules hid their payload in false pockets and secret luggage compartments are all but over. These days, smugglers have become incredibly resourceful as a reaction to the expanding authority of security contractors, who are deployed in most international airports. Despite raising the public's ire, 3D scanning technology and invasive searches performed by private contractors are big money and dozens of prospecting companies have already jumped at the lucrative opportunity.
What's Driving This Trend
- Organic Luggage
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating eco-friendly, sustainable luggage options that are resistant to smuggling attempts.
- Resourceful Smuggling Techniques
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing advanced detection technology and security measures to combat evolving smuggling methods.
- Expanding Authority of Security Contractors
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Offering innovative solutions and services for security contractors to enhance airport security and prevent smuggling.
Who This Affects Most
- Luggage Manufacturing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating new materials and technologies to create luggage that is not easily manipulated for smuggling purposes.
- Detection Technology
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating advanced scanning systems and detection tools that can identify hidden substances within organic materials.
- Security Services
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Providing cutting-edge security solutions and training for airport security contractors to enhance their ability to detect and prevent smuggling.
