Around 80% of reported incidents in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden goods.
Around 80% of dangerous-goods incidents reported to IATA in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden dangerous goods, according to the association’s new Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain whitepaper.
IATA warns that conventional cargo security screening was designed primarily to detect explosives and other security threats, not every type of dangerous good concealed or incorrectly declared within a shipment. The paper therefore calls for a layered response that begins further upstream, before cargo reaches the airline acceptance point.
For forwarding and logistics partners, the message reinforces the importance of shipper education, accurate classification, documentation and early communication between forwarders, handlers and airlines. Screening remains essential, but it cannot replace correct information and responsibility at the start of the cargo journey.
Sources: IATA press release and whitepaper access and IATA LinkedIn post
