“Daltexpharma”: A Case Addressing Potential Pharmaceutical Cargo Theft

Case Synopsis This paper is provided as an innovative resource for those in the academic and training arenas to use as a case example in discussing the problem of pharmaceutical cargo theft. The case delves into the worldwide, on-going dilemma of pharmaceutical trucking cargo theft losses and the effects of such theft. For those unfamiliar with the case method of instruction, the paper’s ending may be rather unsettling. But that is where the student’s learning and faculty instruction process come together. Typically, students (whether in teams or individually) will fully develop their responses based on the queries provided at the end. Faculty may then proceed in any number of ways to elicit the students’ insights in a classroom setting. For decades the pharmaceutical industry has been plagued with a plethora of criminal acts that impact the daily processes and procedures of operations. Pharmaceutical warehouse and trucking thefts have not only aided in the currently debilitating state of the opioid crisis in the United States, but these thefts also aid the black market in the illegal sale of diverted prescription drugs. Due to the lack of security measures, vulnerability of the truck drivers, their rigs, and the value of the cargo being transported, pharmaceutical theft is a lucrative opportunity for organized crime. The case presented here describes the issues within the pharmaceutical industry as companies must deal with “last mile” cargo thefts. Daltexpharma represents a synthesized, hypothetical example of a pharmaceutical firm that must develop policies to deal with such potential thefts in its supply chain. Although a fictitious company, the case realistically details the important factors to consider in establishing strong security practices that may be necessary for a pharmaceutical company operating in today’s environment. In order to protect the integrity and security of the authors’ case notes, particularly for use in an academic setting, the Journal’s editor will maintain control of them. They may be obtained by faculty upon presenting their request to the Editor. Article Type: Instructional Tool

Fraud Detection of Bulk Cargo Theft in Port Using Bayesian Network Models

The fraud detection of cargo theft has been a serious issue in ports for a long time. Traditional research in detecting theft risk is expert- and survey-based, which is not optimal for proactive prediction. As we move into a pervasive and ubiquitous paradigm, the implications of external environment and system behavior are continuously captured as multi-source data. Therefore, we propose a novel data-driven approach for formulating predictive models for detecting bulk cargo theft in ports. More specifically, we apply various feature-ranking methods and classification algorithms for selecting an effective feature set of relevant risk elements. Then, implicit Bayesian networks are derived with the features to graphically present the relationship with the risk elements of fraud. Thus, various binary classifiers are compared to derive a suitable predictive model, and Bayesian network performs best overall. The resulting Bayesian networks are then comparatively analyzed based on the outcomes of model validation and testing, as well as essential domain knowledge. The experimental results show that predictive models are effective, with both accuracy and recall values greater than 0.8. These predictive models are not only useful for understanding the dependency between relevant risk elements, but also for supporting the strategy optimization of risk management.

Design and Application of Electronic Tracking Control Systems (ETCS) to Improve Vehicle Safety

Fuel and chemical cargo are essential tools for national security. There is the potential for fire and environmental pollution when occurring an accident such as a collision or overturning. On the other hand, cases of cargo theft are also reported frequently. Currently, preventive efforts are carried out by attaching warnings to the vehicle body with stickers, but it is a passive method. Therefore, this article presents a design and application for monitoring vehicles in real-time with Electronic Tracking Control Systems (ETCS). If the vehicle speed is more than 60 km/hour, ECTS will send an SMS to the vehicle owner about the speed and location of the vehicle being monitored. With ETCS, vehicle accidents and misuse can be minimized by quick monitoring and communication between the owner and the driver.

The moderating role of transport chain location in cargo theft risk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore cargo theft risk and security for different product types at different locations along a transport chain. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a system-theoretical approach. The research method is deductive, as the analysis is based on secondary data and results from a questionnaire. The results are analysed based on supply chain risk management (SCRM) theories. Findings Due to substantial interaction effects, the type of product and transport chain location must be considered to determine the correct level of security. Specifically, the product type is more significant, since the general cargo theft risk is higher. Furthermore, the transport industry has three perspectives on security responses to cargo theft, namely, demanded, needed and actual security, which differ depending on the product type and transport chain location. Research limitations/implications This database is structured according to the global Transported Asset Protection Association organisational structure, which implies that there are three main databases: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Practical implications This study has both research and practical implications, as it examines security within freight transport from three perspectives, linked to general cargo theft risk and goods owners’ requirements. Originality/value This study addresses the contemporary SCRM problem of cargo theft using actual crime statistics and the industry understanding of required generic security levels.

SPECIALIZED AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR CONTROL AND SUPPORT OF RAIL CARGO TRANSPORTATION

Today, Ukraine has faced the significant problem of railway cargo theft during transit and in the parking lots. Large losses of railways in this case require intensification of the fight against these crimes. The objective of the research is to find out the ways for preventing cargo encroachment by creating a network of weigh checkpoints (WCPs) on the railroad, which is intended for automatic control of the actual weight of goods in train carriages without moving them with further comparison of the accompanying data of cargo documents using electronic communication. In the event of a discrepancy between the indications of WCP device and the accompanying information on the loads, there is a fixed shortage of cargo in the carriage. The optimization of the general demand for WCP on the railways in practice allows law enforcement officers to use the research carried out as a means to effectively prevent crimes on the railroad.