The Matson container that arrived at Honolulu’s Sand Island was supposed to hold metal and plastic fasteners from an Illinois company, less than 5,000 pounds worth based on its shipping papers.
So why, port officials wondered, did the cargo weigh almost three times that much?
When they opened up the container on that March day nearly three years ago, it didn’t hold a single fastener. Instead, it was stuffed with cardboard box after cardboard box of illegal fireworks, $2.7 million worth…