Smugglers' Paradise

Great work, Adam, your meta-analysis of the globalized third world trade in knock-off is right on. "Fake" Marlboro's made in China...that graphic was excellent.

I don't think you really convinced me that all those packages were illicit. Also, I don't sympathize with your conviction atop the cop car that they should be incrimating the traders in knock-off goods. There certainly is better things for cops to be doing than arresting fake Diesel dealers. The question of "authenticity" which you explore is not something that is relevent to most dealers and consumers of those goods in third world countries. In fact, "authenticity" is something only elites are concerned with. The third world is concerned with function. So to return to your cop-top monologue, I think you were projecting 1st world concerns of intellectual property rights and brand rights into a location where it doesn't fit. I see "fakery" as a form of resistence and radical appropriation. My critique here is classic Marxist critique of the US after World War II when we started the mass production and global trade in goods: think of "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". It felt like you were partial, perhaps subconsciously, to those trying to stop fakes and the gray market trade that fuels this nation.

I, in fact, sympathize with the producers and consumers of those fake luxory goods, not the corporate owners of the "original" brands. Your pod made me feel guilty for buying fake Diesel jeans on Venice Beach. Which is a good thing, I would contend.

I think the greatest result of your work was your discovery of Hezbullah-financing third world capitalism in Paraguay. Wonderful new information.

thanks,

Adam

its heaven and hell

the president of paraguay, a few years ago, had his own official fleet of SUVs, all which had been stolen from buenos aires, according to this pod, it was just one mercedez benz, who knows?

arg being 40 million people, bra 180 mill, parag about 7 million, all in all, almost 230 million people who have become part of the corrupted system, it would take decades of education to start to see a little improvement.

to what extend is really needed to have so much control over frontiers? it is very virtual, how about ppl going between mex to the us?

there are many terror organizations working in la triple frontera, as stated on this pod. when will proper change come to this area? i dont think it is a matter of time anymore, it can continue like this forever, it is a matter of will. how can this happen, i do not know.

Just watched this pod on tv. Excellent work! I really enjoy all of the serious, intelligent stories that you bring to us.
globalization's effects are so often misunderstood and poorly explained so i found the analysis very insightful.

i think i would have liked to learn some more about paraguay, hopefully there will be some more pods from this place.

I watched this on tv and was amazed! Adam is wonderful!

Adam great pod - are you going to do a followup -something like how the - corruption effects the people

Solid, great look into this

http://www.losandes.com.ar/2007/1108/UM/nota407662_1.htm

excellent work on this pod, adam and grace. interesting how you looked not just at the terror issue that the government is quick to point to, but also at the tentacles of globalization. the effects of trade are far and wide, and this segment helps illustrate a larger trendline taking place everywhere across the globe.

This is a good pod, but I find myself agreeing a lot with rawbird...seems to be mainly about counterfeit goods...big whoop...we have those in flea markets all across the US. I couldn't help but notice how much the "terrorist" slogan was thrown in though. One thing I did notice was how that "cop" looking guy made mention that all the "weapons" seemed to be from the US...lol
once that guy mentioned that it seemed his interview ended rather quick...lmao

And for the drugs side of things maybe this can add perspective...
http://current.com/items/88863956_ex_dea_head_admits_cia_imported_cocaine

Just raises more questions for inquiring minds?

i love you, i love you,
you are a fresh breeze of air, in the polluted songs of cnn.
NO PUN INTENDED, Lura Ling is the pamela anderson, of CURRENT tv.
i love you all, you are just pushing the envelope so much
that it's folding in half.

you guys are amazing... thank you for enlightening me about the world i live in!

I'm from Paraguay, and is sad to say that the country is just as what you've seen... I agree 100% with rawbird comment....

Adam was looking for larger underwear?? Oh my. =P~ (Sorry, just wanted to add some levity to an otherwise well-done, educationally sobering pod.)

No creo nada de lo que dice, solamente me parece que es otra mentira del gobierno norteamericano para tener una excusa para poder invadir la región ya que esta zona cuenta con una de las reservas de agua potable mas grandes del mundo.
Basta de inventos y dejen de joder a todo el mundo

Just watched the vanguard special on paragua's triple frontier, and was surprised at how freely and easily people can smuggle arms, drugs and counterfeit merchandise between Brazil, Argentina and Paragua, and distribute it throughout South America, and around the world. It was shocking to learn about possible terrorist cells existing in Cuidad del Este (Paragua), and the unregulated funding to Hezbollah, and al-Quada.