Smuggling Rings
Illegal Trade;Salty Smugglers
"Something for nothing" has always had an attraction and during the hard time became a part of everyday life. ~Sgt.Blue
Smuggling could be the effort of individuals seizing an opportunity,or a professional,large scale planned venture! The majority of fines and penalties were,unfortunately(and perhaps unfairly), paid by the opportunist. Professionals usually had the backing of well established sponsors and could consider the cost of doing business.
Throughout the centuries smuggling has been considered by the Avonmoran people to be a very profitable way of life. Frequent wars and corrupted officials allowed smugglers to do whatever they want so they smuggled in open defiance of the law. The only precaution was taken was to make sure villagers 'face the wall' when they approach with their contraband. As a result, if an individual smuggler was caught and to be sentenced, the villagers could take oath, they had seen nothing, hear is not evidence.
Hence the famous saying:
"Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie,
Watch the wall, my darling, while the gentleman go by."
Smugglers brought in goods subjected to high tariffs and taxes (rum, tobacco, cotton etc) for sale. Import restrictions and blockades made certain goods hard to come by and taxation was heavy on those items that could be acquired legally.
All coastal areas are affected by smuggling. Some communities along the the coast are in the league with the smugglers (some probably dependent on smuggling) first to obtain unavailable goods then as participants in the landing, concealing and transporting of the goods.
Aftermath of Wars
After many (if not all) major (and a few minor) wars in Avonmora has ended, there is always an upsurge in smuggling due to men being released from military (especially the Navy) and unable to find jobs (lack of post war excitement also contributed). However, this upsurge normally brought down when nations establish "Sea and Land Blockades" in the popular smuggling havens proved to be an effective deterrent.
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Article done by:The Avonmora Outlook
Thank you for reading,
Sir Richard Delrio
