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RECENT RISE IN NUMBER OF SMUGGLED CHINESE IMMIGRANTS DRAWS NEW ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM
The recent discovery of four large groups of Chinese nationals being smuggled in containers aboard cargo ships has focused attention on what is becoming a serious problem.  One of the incidents occurred in Seattle, two more in Los Angeles and the fourth in Vancouver.  This type of smuggling is unlike most ship-board smuggling.  Rather than simply pack the ship with refugees, in the current wave of container smuggling people are hidden in the containers used to carry cargo.  Most of the containers, which can carry about 25 people, have soft canvas tops that allow for easier breathing.  Also, most of the containers recently discovered had been fitted with makeshift latrines. 
Of course, the would be immigrants pay dearly for the marginally better conditions found in a container.  The average cost of being smuggled in a container is about ,000, or twice what most ship smuggling costs.  There were other indications that these people were relatively well-to-do.  For example, many of those recently discovered were fairly well dressed and had personal items such as cellular telephones and compact disc players.  However, this may only be evidence that the smugglers wanted to help them blend in once in the US.  This may especially be so given that many smuggled immigrants only pledge the money before making the trip, and are often forced into essentially indentured servitude to repay the debt.  
Officials discovered the first instance of container smuggling in April 1998.  Including the recent discoveries, the total number incidents is now eight.  The most likely cause for the rise in this form of smuggling is the success of law enforcement efforts to stop other types of smuggling.  
There is no evidence that the owners of the ships involved were engaged in smuggling, but an INS spokesperson did announce that the government was looking into ways of making shipping companies more responsible when smuggling occurs on their ships.  One suggestion was to make them partially responsible for the costs of detaining the smuggled people. 
Three people are being held in Seattle on suspicion they were involved in the smuggling.  They were discovered in a van near the docks shortly after the containers were discovered.  A preliminary hearing will be held next week.