Buzz
When smuggling is mentioned, the first thing most people think of is drugs. However, there are also items that are banned or controlled, such as ivory and firearms. The truth is, throughout history, a vast array of things have been smuggled. As long as governments have imposed taxes and controls on imports, smugglers have found clever ways to circumvent them. No one enforces restrictions on goods entering their land quite like an authoritarian or totalitarian regime.
Over time, various regimes have sought to restrict or eliminate things that people enjoy, often with little explanation. Some of these efforts were more effective than others, but none have completely succeeded in halting contraband from reaching the public. Here are ten intriguing examples of items that were smuggled past some of history’s most oppressive governments.
10. A Letter from the Pope
Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent state, has a disproportionate influence due to its role as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic faith. In 1937, Pope Pius XI used this influence to challenge the Nazi regime. He issued an encyclical, a letter meant for widespread distribution, primarily authored by his successor, Pius XII.
The encyclical was called 'Mit brennender Sorge,' which translates to 'With Deep Anxiety.' However, it could easily have been named 'With Intense Anger,' as both Piuses did not shy away from expressing their frustrations. To ensure their message was unmistakable, they chose to write it in German instead of the usual Latin. The document was filled with scorn for the Nazis, even ridiculing their 'superficial minds.'
In order to avoid being intercepted by the authorities, the encyclical was smuggled into Germany. Once there, 300,000 copies were printed and stealthily distributed to churches just before Palm Sunday, when large congregations were expected. That morning, an estimated 20 million German Catholics heard the message as priests read it aloud during mass.
9. The Lithuanian Language
Books were always at the top of the list for tyrannical regimes to suppress, and the Russian Tsars were no exception. In fact, they once attempted to eliminate an entire language. After annexing Lithuania in the late 19th century, Russia sought to impose its own culture on the Lithuanian people. They banned the printing, possession, or distribution of Lithuanian texts, but they underestimated the strength of the resistance. Lithuanian communities in Prussia and the U.S. began to publish millions of books and papers in their native language.
Each year, around 40,000 of these publications were smuggled back into Lithuania. Smugglers crossed the border at the River Nemunas, carrying up to 80 pounds (36.3 kilograms) of books. These were hidden in hay, furniture, and even coffins, and transported by horse-drawn carts along the Panemunė Road deep into the country. The courageous smugglers, who risked torture and exile to Siberia, are credited with preserving the oldest surviving Indo-European language.
8. A New National Anthem
While literature played a crucial role in preserving Lithuanian identity, in Nazi-occupied France, music became the uniting force. Throughout history, movements have recognized the power of song to rally people around their cause. When regimes change, national anthems are often among the first symbols to be altered. When the Nazis invaded France, they immediately banned 'La Marseillaise,' the iconic French national anthem. However, the French Resistance understood the power of music, and the Nazis unknowingly provided them with the chance to create a new anthem that would go undetected for a while.
One day, exiled Resistance leader Emmanuel d’Astier overheard singer Anna Marly performing an old Russian tune. He thought the melody would be perfect for resistance lyrics and tasked some French refugees with writing them. The result was 'Le Chant des Partisans,' a song that was broadcast on Resistance radio and the BBC. The lyrics and music were printed in underground newspapers, and the British Royal Air Force helped smuggle copies into France. The song quickly gained popularity and was often sung to honor fallen resistance fighters. After the war, it was even considered as a potential national anthem.
7. The Beatles’ Records
The USSR was yet another regime that recognized the potential danger of music as a subversive tool. They sought to ban any music they disapproved of, and their list of banned artists was extensive. Among those they tried to suppress were The Beatles, a band not typically associated with political commentary, yet deemed problematic by the Soviet authorities.
The famous British band was considered 'capitalist pollution,' making them worthy of prohibition. However, this did not prevent Beatlemania from crossing the Russian border. In fact, smugglers found inventive ways to get records by the Fab Four and other banned musicians into the hands of eager fans.
While a black market for authentic vinyl records smuggled in by those allowed to travel abroad existed, the prices were prohibitively high for most Soviet workers—sometimes as much as two weeks' wages. But someone figured out a workaround: they could press the music onto x-ray film using specially modified record players. The resulting discs still bore the X-ray images, which led locals to refer to them as 'music on the bones.'
6. Jesus of Nazareth
The 'Jesus of Nazareth' smuggled into Romania under the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu was not the biblical figure, but a 1977 film. Ceaușescu, who ruled Romania from 1965 to 1989, was inspired to suppress 'foreign ideas' after visiting communist nations like China and North Korea. He imposed various arbitrary cultural restrictions, including a ban on TV shows and films, prohibiting anything religious, and even restricting the depiction of luxury items such as Ferraris, upscale homes, or swimming pools.
But where there is a demand, there will be a way to satisfy it, and the Romanians were desperate for distraction from Ceaușescu's oppressive regime. They longed to watch Western films and listen to music. Some of those who were allowed to travel abroad, including athletes, pilots, and sailors, began bringing VHS tapes and records back with them. One of the most sought-after films was 'Jesus of Nazareth,' but many others were smuggled in as well. These were passed along through underground networks of translators and distributors, with secret screenings taking place in living rooms, where blankets were nailed over the windows to keep the gatherings hidden from the authorities.
5. Squid Game
Even during Ceaușescu’s reign, there were instances where prominent figures in the illegal trade of foreign culture went unpunished despite ample evidence against them. Some authorities themselves were involved in the black market. There is speculation that maintaining this underground trade helped the regime by diverting the public’s attention from opposition movements. However, one of Ceaușescu’s inspirations, North Korea, continues to ruthlessly enforce its ban on foreign ideas.
This is enforced under the 'Law on the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture,' a law that even applies to minors. A 2021 case highlighted the severity of the law: a student who smuggled copies of the popular South Korean series 'Squid Game' into the country via a flash drive was sentenced to death by firing squad. He had sold copies to other students, and when word spread, the censors caught wind of it. Those who bought the film were interrogated and either imprisoned or subjected to forced labor.
4. The Internet
One of the greatest challenges for authoritarian regimes has been the internet. Its vastness makes it impossible to entirely block access to censored material, though some countries have attempted to do so. Iran, for instance, has implemented a 'kill-switch' that allows authorities to shut down the internet at any time. However, these regimes now face the growing challenge of satellite internet, which can bypass censorship. SpaceX’s Starlink is one of the leading examples of this technology that undermines government control.
The issue with satellite technology is that it requires receivers on the ground. Iran’s leaders have forbidden these devices, claiming they 'deviate from morality and culture.' Nevertheless, activist groups are believed to have smuggled hundreds of Starlink receivers into the country by 2022. One of the main reasons they require satellite internet is to effectively organize protests and expose the regime’s actions to the world. For instance, during protests in 2019, an estimated 1,500 people were killed by the regime, and the government shut down the internet to prevent people from documenting the atrocities.
3. Corpses
In the Western world during the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals likely feared their bodies would end up on the black market after death. However, in 21st-century Iraq, most of the deceased being smuggled would have been glad to know about their fate. They were embarking on a journey that countless Shiite Muslims have undertaken for centuries, culminating in their burial at the Valley of Peace cemetery in Najaf, Iraq.
Known locally as Wadi Al-Salam, this vast cemetery is believed to contain over six million bodies, including those of kings and prophets. Burial numbers dwindled in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as Iraq was ravaged by wars and rebellions. Legally, sending bodies for burial there became virtually impossible for most people due to exorbitant fees and taxes, making it accessible only to the wealthy. However, smugglers from Iraq and Iran stepped in, offering a much cheaper option. The deceased would be smuggled into the country along the same routes used for illegal drugs and weapons.
2. Philosophers
Authoritarians fear one thing above all else: ideas. That’s why they ban books, but books aren’t the only vessel for ideas to travel. They can be carried by people as well. In communist Czechoslovakia during the late 1970s, several renowned philosophers managed to enter the country under the regime's radar to share their thoughts. It was a highly risky endeavor for everyone involved.
One of these philosophers, the British thinker Sir Roger Scruton, noted that the authorities were wary of any gatherings and that associating with others or sharing common interests could be dangerous. The small group of intellectuals he collaborated with entered Czechoslovakia by participating in publicly known seminars, ones the authorities were already aware of. These seminars were, in fact, seen as perfect decoys due to the authorities’ focus on them.
While the police's attention remained fixed on these public seminars, they were completely oblivious to the smaller, private ones the group was actually there to attend. These intimate discussions were where they taught students about subjects such as philosophy, history, art, and music. Scruton’s organization also operated in other Iron Curtain countries, including Hungary and Poland.
1. Computer Chips
Sometimes, items smuggled into authoritarian regimes aren’t outright banned by those governments. Instead, the real issue is that trade with the originating country is restricted. This is the case with Nvidia computer chips. Since 2022, the U.S. has imposed restrictions on exporting advanced Nvidia GPUs and data center chips, which are capable of powering AI, to China. Nevertheless, many of these devices can still be found for sale in China.
The real question isn’t how these chips are getting into the country, but rather how they are leaving. One method involves an underground network that ships dozens of devices each month through couriers traveling from neighboring countries where these chips are available, such as Singapore. However, this route only works for certain chips. In the U.S., some are not even sold to individuals but only to companies that establish data centers, like Dell and Super Micro. Despite this, reports suggest that Chinese buyers have discovered several loopholes to circumvent the system and acquire these chips.
