Interesting conversation occurred today, which I think prompts me walking directly into a firing squad.

Scenario:

Packer sales phone rings. "Hi, I'm Joe Exotic and I'd like to buy a 100 containers of beef sides."

This phone call happens 100x a day. This trade never does.

Why?

Well let's start with another scenario:

"A man walks onto your farm/lot and says I want to buy every animal you have. And I have cash."

Okay, what is the catch? I hope this is what you think first.

Because there is fine print.

You ask the guy for credit references. He probably doesnt have any. You ask for proof of funds. It get's supplied. And then the fine print: you can sell this stranger every animal you have and there is a chance that the money is clean and the trade is legit.

But.....

But there is an equal chance that the trade is dirty, and this guy is going to smuggle your animals into a foreign country through a gray channel.

Now there is a chance nothing goes wrong and he doesn't get caught.

But....

But if he does get caught, not only can you not sell another animal ever again, but your neighbors lose their right to market their animals too, AND you become legally liable for their losses.

Not making sense yet?

This cash rich guy might be cleaning money through a trade. IRS anyone?

This buyer is most likely working with a foreign smuggler (unbeknownst often), and if a plant sells product to a trader who gets busted for smuggling the entire establishment gets banned from the country.

Not just that---but if this product gets tested in Asia for instance and comes back with a beta agonist positive---the entire United States could lose their export market.

And this is why people who try to start export companies fail. Buyers are plentiful, legit ones--less so.

I was one of the people who started an export company.

I was one of the people who failed because of this.

BUT I also answered the phone for about 1,000 global smugglers all over the globe. From African rebel armies to Hong Kong to Columbia. I've seen it in action.