The paradigm of transgression (I)

Over the course of time, even at a specific moment in history, there have been not one but many smugglings. Smuggling, like the border itself, is one and many at the same time. This diversity of methods, content and variety taken makes up its peculiar nature. Traditional smuggling also has an accommodating character as regards variable historical and contextual circumstances; its flexible structure allowed it to adapt to the various local difficulties and particularities.

Each area, each region, each border settlement had its particularities, its distinctive characteristics as respects the type of smuggling which went on there. It was not just the merchandise, the passes, the place of exchange, the people that varied but also the means of transport, the kind of organisation, etc. Despite this, traditional smuggling on the interior border has a common background of similarity, a similar organisational structure based on the gangs of smugglers.