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Cement, I have some ideas about the uses for cement in our context. Here is basically what happens to container cargo when it arrives and meets U.S. Customs.

https://www.icontainers.com/us/2016/09/22/main-us-customs-inspection-costs/

So far everything has gone as planned. You’ve packed your container perfectly and filled out all of the appropriate forms. The vessel has left on time. You’re waiting like a kid on Christmas morning for your shipment to arrive at its destination. But just before your shipment is scheduled to be released, the carrier contacts you with the worst news, the container carrying your goods has been placed on hold for an inspection. When a shipment arrives at its destination port, customs will give it a “score”. If the score is over a certain number, they are likely to review and possibly examine the shipment.

There are 4 types of holds Customs can place on a container (or vessel etc depending on the scope).
1. Manifest hold - a hold placed on containers with an incorrect manifest.
2. A CET hold (A-TCET) - a hold placed by the anti-terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team on containers that may contain illegal contraband.
3. PGA/Commercial Enforcement Hold - A hold that Participating Government Agencies (FDA, USDA etc) who regulate products entering the USA, can place on a container to ensure it complies with regulations.
4. Statistical Validation Hold - a hold placed on containers when the goods listed on the manifest do not match the expected weight, value, etc.

There are 3 main exams customs will conduct to determine whether they will release or confiscate a shipment.

1. The X-Ray Exam (VACIS exam): The containers on a shipment are put through an X-ray machine at the terminal. Once the photos are examined, they will release the container. Or, it will be escalated to go through an additional exam.
2. The Tail Gate Exam: The container is inspected at the pier. A customs officer breaks the seal of the container and inspects its contents. If everything is correct, they will release the container or the container is escalated to the final level of exams.
3. The Intensive Exam: The entire container is taken to a Customs Exam Site (CES). The contents of the container are emptied. At the CES an authorized agent will empty the container, separate the parcels, open boxes, and prepare the cargo for a customs officer to fully inspect the cargo.

It seems cement is a great product to use to mask anything else that might be included. The x-ray exam won't work and it's not likely there would be an inspection for a raw material. Also, I'm sure there is political pressure as well to not "inconvenience" important global entities. CEMEX uses bulk containers on trucks/rail so with NAFTA all that stuff just sails on through. Once it's in, the freight map I posted shows it could go almost anywhere.

I’ve actually been wondering about the uses for cement in the skullduggery context. I could not have come up with this on my own.

So do they actually pack cement around contraband goods, like missiles? Are they involved in live human trafficking? I’m having a hard time seeing how that would work. Not gainsaying it, but just not able to envision the criminal evil mechanisms involved.

This whole CEMEX misuse of cement thing - along with purported use of blood and bio products, seems to be a big refinement of that old Mafia practice of just dumping a body into a construction site hole and filing it in with concrete.