lhrsfo

Around when I started work, one of the great deals was to take a courier flight. This was in the days before FedEX and DHL and the idea was that they bought you a ticket from London to New York (or, I guess, vice-versa), you couldn't check a bag but you had to carry important documents with you onto the plane. They then met you on arrival and took the documents from you for hand delivery. All perfectly legitimate and I knew many people who did it.

beachmouse

I remember the 'travel cheap' articles back in the 80s and 90s talking about legit courier services like that.

steveo

couldn't you just take the cheap flight and toss the drugs down the toilet?

tentseller

You could, but I think we have watched enough movies to know what are some of the potential consequences.

Annalisa12

Unfortunately that's true

RustyC

I flew as an air courier three times circa 1993-94, when there was more of a difference between courier-fare costs and the cheapest regular fares. You wanted to fly for a reputable company like Halbart (which had some NYC-Asia trips, and also a recorded-message after hours with what they had available. And lots of busy signals when you called). You also usually earned miles back then.

These days the rock-bottom fares from LAX/SFO/ORD/NYC/WAS/MIA are quite a bit lower, and courier companies supposedly have arrangements with airlines that no longer require passengers with tickets in most cases. So that ratchets up the suspicion a bit about what they're trying to do in bringing this back. Though back in the old days you'd carry the manifest and would meet the courier company representative before customs and hand him the manifest and your (paper) ticket...you'd only get the ticket back from him at the airport on the trip back.

Kagehitokiri

what payments do they accept? skip luggage and treat flight as one way?

you may have been thinking of different opioids

cnn.com/2017/02/16/health/fentanyl-china-ban-opioids/index.html

usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-06-19/china-bans-more-deadly-synthetic-opioids-including-u-47700

MSPeconomist

Kids used to take new or used jeans to sell in Russia.

Now you hear of people smuggling baby formula into mainland China in addition to the iphones.

TheTakeOffRush

Clearly I'm poorly informed, but what's the problem??? Lavatory out of commission due to drugs-clog?

tentseller

Fail to deliver goods are frowned upon by people who in this business.
It's only your life, go ahead and take advantage of the offer.

crabbing

as much as everyone likes to think they're shipping drugs or other illegal materials, they won't - because the mule will blab about the source and they will be caught.

the real purpose is to exploit the gray market. shoes, bags/purses, and small electronics are the main commodity. nothing illegal (but don't kid yourself - the goods may be acquired or sold through criminal channels).

the real questions are, what happens if the bag is lost or if there are items missing at the destination.

MSPeconomist

Some countries take copyright/trademark infringement seriously, so bringing a bunch of fakes into the country obviously to be sold later (by someone else if not you) could get you into serious trouble. It could be worse if prohibited items were also involved, such as endangered species. The quantities would clearly not be for personal use.