Editing Smuggling (section)

==Legal definition==
[[File:Salakuljettajilta kieltolain aikana takavarikoitua alkoholia.jpg|thumb|Illegal alcohol in confiscation, [[Finland|Finnish]] policemen and preventive officers on background. Prohibitory law against trade of alcoholic beverages ("[[Prohibition in Finland|kieltolaki]]") was in force during years 1919–1932 in Finland.]]
In popular perception smuggling is synonymous with illegal trade. Even [[Social sciences|social scientists]] have misconstrued smuggling as illegal trade.<ref>Thursby, M., Jensen, R. and J. Thursby: ‘Smuggling, Camouflaging, and Market Structure’, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1991, p.789.</ref> While the two have indeed identical objectives, namely the evasion of taxes and the importation of contraband items, their demand and cost functions are altogether different requiring different analytical framework. As a result, illegal trade through [[Border checkpoint|customs stations]] is differently considered, and smuggling is defined as [[international trade]] through 'unauthorized route'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hildebrandt |first=Torsten |title=The term 'Smuggling' in German-language legal systems |url=https://steuerstrafrecht-rechtsanwalt.de/en/smuggling.html |accessdate=20 May 2023 |website=Lawyer for customs criminal law}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} A seaport, airport or land port which has not been authorized by the government for importation and exportation is an 'unauthorized route'. The legal definition of these occurs in the [[Customs Act]] of the country. Notably, some definitions define any 'undeclared' trafficking of currency and precious metal as smuggling. Smuggling is a [[cognizable offense]] in which both the smuggled goods and the goods are punishable{{clarify|date=May 2025|reason=What's the difference between smuggled goods and goods, and how can goods be punished?}}.