Smuggling is the illegal exchange of goods and services from under the public eye. Typically composed of information, physical products, food, and even living beings. While smuggling is a general term, it is more specifically applied to illegal transactions of inanimate objects, which is categorized as contraband. The act is labeled as trafficking when the exchange is for living beings such a humans and animals, although in the case of animals, usually only the term smuggling is used.
Smuggling is often performed in areas with a moderate amount of people, not so much that anyone doing business would be instantly caught, but not so few that more people than usual would draw attention. Because of the constant need for stealth, sellers and buyers do not show their illicit goods out in the open, and regularly keep them hidden away from prying eyes.
While smuggling and trafficking refer to the same activities, they are not interchangeable terms when it comes to involving humans. Smuggling is often as simple as one or more people sneaking another to a different location, such as illegal immigration. These scenarios have the smugglers carry out their acts with consent from the ones being smuggled. Trafficking, however, is non-consensual, with the people being trafficked often being coerced, threatened, and/or kidnapped by the people trafficking them, being involved in the situation fully against their will. In essence, smuggling has the subjects willingly complying and the perpetrators genuinely caring for the well-being of those they smuggle, while traffickers not only force their victims into compliance but also willingly put them through deplorable conditions that violate numerous human rights.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Despite numerous mammals being smuggled as exotic pets, for their meat and furs, and for medicinal reasons, the most trafficked mammals on earth are humans, either for hard labor, forced servitude, slavery or unwilling prostitution.
- As they tend to have more negative images in society, plant-based liminal species such as Dryads and Alraune's are particularly popular subjects for trafficking.[1] Kii is one such victim, having been brought to Japan against her will for the purpose of being sold. This and her forest being a frequent victim of constant littering gave her a deep-seated dislike for humans, with her barely tolerating Kimihito and Ms Smith while being much more disdainful of other humans.[2]
- While most trafficking in Monster Musume is done by humans, a good number of liminals also partake in the activity. Notable examples include gangs of male Kobolds and Minotaurs, two species pre-established to have a otherwise relatively clean reputation.[3]
References[]