Buzz
It’s widely known that illicit activities generate massive profits. The drug trade, for example, forms a substantial segment of the underground economy, raking in 600 billion US dollars yearly—nearly 70% of the total earnings of global criminal networks. Furthermore, around 1.5 TRILLION dollars from drug sales are laundered through legal businesses annually, representing about 5% of the world’s GDP. While 5% might appear modest, it’s a staggering figure when considering the total global economic output.
Beyond drugs, the world of illegal trade includes some bizarre and unexpected markets—some that might seem like urban legends, others involving otherwise legal goods, all generating enormous profits for those involved. Below are ten of the most unusual.
10. Primates
Numerous wildlife species face poaching and illegal trade, with primates like chimpanzees and orangutans being prime targets due to various reasons. They are not only consumed as food in certain regions but are also exploited in biomedical research, sold as exotic pets, and used in the entertainment industry. While thousands of primates are legally imported into the U.S. annually, primarily for research—a practice many find objectionable—an additional 3,000 apes are poached or acquired through dubious legal channels, despite the illegal methods used to capture them.
The U.S. stands out as one of the few nations where owning a great ape, a larger primate species, is legal. Approximately 100 are kept as pets across the country. In Indonesia, a hotspot for poaching, penalties for possession are minimal, often resulting in nothing more than the confiscation of the animal.
This leniency contributes to the issue—a recent United Nations report reveals that over 22,000 apes have been lost to poaching or related deaths since 2005. In the same period, only 27 arrests were made in Africa and Asia, with fewer than a quarter leading to prosecution. It’s no surprise that ape poaching accounts for a significant portion of the $10 billion annual illegal wildlife trade.
9. Timber
While the legal timber sector has long worked to reduce its environmental impact, illegal logging has grown into a massive global issue. The U.S. alone loses an estimated 1 billion dollars yearly due to illegal logging. In nations like Brazil and Peru, up to 80% of logging activities are illegal, and worldwide economic losses likely exceed 10 billion dollars annually—and this only accounts for the financial toll.
Illegal logging operations bypass government regulations designed to safeguard the environment and protect vulnerable areas. Clear-cutting, a common practice, significantly contributes to climate change. Recent studies warn that all rainforest wildlife could face extinction within a century due to the combined effects of illegal logging and global warming. Even more concerning, illegal timber traffickers are now adopting methods similar to drug smugglers, sometimes even collaborating with them. Yes, this includes hiding drugs like cocaine within timber shipments.
Approximately 30% of the global timber trade is illegal, generating between 10-15 billion dollars annually for criminal organizations.
8. Organs
If this seems like a plot from a horror film, you might be shocked to learn that the illegal trade of human organs is not only real but also a highly lucrative industry.
Most illegally traded organs are kidneys, since humans can survive with just one. Desperate donors may sell a kidney for as little as $5,000, while recipients often pay up to $200,000 or more. This trade thrives in Middle Eastern and Asian nations, with the Philippines, India, and Pakistan being major hubs. China is unique in harvesting organs from executed prisoners, with some experts suggesting executions are timed to meet organ demand.
While some individuals voluntarily sell their organs, others are coerced, deceived, or even unknowingly have organs removed during unrelated surgeries. According to a World Health Organization report, around 10,000 illegal organ operations occur yearly, potentially making this a multi-billion-dollar underground industry.
7. Snake Skins
The python skin trade is supposedly under strict regulation, yet the demand for these skins—especially in Europe, where python leather handbags and designer shoes are highly sought after—has skyrocketed. Despite California banning the sale of pythons or their parts since 1970, snakeskin products can still be found in luxury stores, with some sellers either disregarding the law or being unaware of it.
Illegally poached python skins yield significantly higher profits, and this illicit market is rapidly overshadowing the legal trade. Although regulations exist and could be effective if enforced, they are often ignored in regions where this practice is prevalent. Snakes, often perceived as unappealing creatures, are vital to their ecosystems, yet they are being hunted at alarming rates, pushing them toward extinction.
Surprisingly, the global python skin trade is worth around a billion dollars annually, with illegal activities accounting for half or more of this figure—and growing each year.
6. Sperm
The online trade of human sperm has surged in recent years, becoming a notable trend. While it may appear harmless—or even beneficial for those struggling with fertility—it raises significant legal and ethical challenges that lawmakers are struggling to address adequately.
Authorized sperm donors are subject to rigorous regulations to prevent genetic disorders and health issues. However, private sperm sales bypass these safeguards, as most sellers skip medical testing, leaving buyers unaware of potential risks. The transmission of infectious diseases through sperm adds a serious layer of concern.
Although laws exist to govern the sale of sperm and eggs, many online platforms evade prosecution by posing as social networks or matchmaking services. These sites claim to merely connect parties for a fee, making enforcement difficult. Global profit figures are elusive, but one UK-based service reportedly signed up 800 women and earned over £250,000 in just a few years.
5. Abalone
Abalone, edible sea snails referred to as “muttonfish” in Australia and “paua” in New Zealand, are considered a delicacy in regions like Chile, France, and parts of Asia. Harvesting regulations are either weak or nonexistent in most areas, except in South Africa, where the issue becomes particularly pronounced.
Seafood is a cornerstone of South Africa’s economy, with abalone being its most valuable product. In 1995, South Africa harvested 615 tons of abalone, but by 2008, this number plummeted to 75 tons, prompting the government to ban abalone fishing to prevent extinction. This sharp decline is largely due to illegal harvesting, which has had a profound impact on the nation’s economy.
Similar population declines, though less severe, have been observed in Northern California and other abalone-rich regions, where a robust illegal trade has taken root. Authorities have imposed hefty fines, sometimes exceeding $40,000, on merchants dealing in illegal abalone. However, the high profitability of poaching suggests this trade is unlikely to diminish soon. Red abalone, for instance, can sell for up to $100 each, though precise annual figures are scarce.
4. Bear Parts
For centuries, the gall bladders and bile of black bears have been used in traditional Asian medicine, believed to cure ailments ranging from eye problems to cancer and AIDS. However, scientific research has conclusively shown that these substances have no medicinal value. Despite this, the illegal trade in bear parts remains widespread and shockingly lucrative.
Bears are not only hunted illegally for their gall bladders and other body parts, but many Asian countries also run illegal “bear farms,” which are as horrifying as they sound. Bears are confined to tiny cages, deprived of proper food and hibernation, and repeatedly subjected to surgical procedures to extract bile. Eventually, they are killed to harvest their gall bladders.
Although this cruel practice is illegal, bear bile and gall bladders are still legally sold in many markets, including the U.S. A recent investigation in New York City revealed that 20% of stores selling Asian products openly offer these items. The illegal trade in bear parts generates an astonishing 2 billion dollars annually.
3. Newborn Babies
Human trafficking ranks as the second most profitable illegal trade globally, trailing only drug trafficking. While the majority of this trade involves sexual exploitation, a significant portion also includes forced labor. Additionally, the underground market for illegal adoptions is growing rapidly. Beyond unlicensed adoption agencies, there have been instances where legally adopted children were resold by their adoptive parents for profit.
These markets often operate independently, driven by local opportunities. For example, in southern Brazil, the high number of blue-eyed, blond-haired descendants of German immigrants has created a demand for such babies among Westerners. Similarly, Russia and Eastern Europe have seen markets emerge for the same purpose, while China faces a surplus of girls due to cultural and political factors.
While these black markets may appear well-intentioned, they often fund criminal organizations involved in various illegal activities. The illegal adoption of newborns is just one segment of the human trafficking industry, which is worth a staggering 32 billion dollars globally.
2. Bootleg Liquor
In many Middle Eastern and Eastern European countries where alcohol is banned or heavily restricted, the black market for bootleg liquor thrives. The consequences of this trade, as well as the extreme measures governments take to combat it, are shocking to those accustomed to casually enjoying a glass of wine or beer.
In nations like Iran and Iraq, where alcohol is strictly prohibited, punishments for producing liquor include lashings, hefty fines, and imprisonment. Despite these severe penalties, the demand for bootleg alcohol is so high that producers consider the risks worthwhile. The situation is so dire that Iranian factories producing rubbing alcohol were mandated by the government to add a bittering agent, making it nearly undrinkable—highlighting the lengths people will go to for a drink.
The dangers of bootleg liquor are starkly illustrated by recent mass fatalities in the Czech Republic (20 deaths, dozens hospitalized) and India (102 deaths). Reliable annual profit figures are scarce due to poor reporting, but consider that Virginia, where alcohol is legal, loses up to 20 million dollars yearly to whiskey smuggling—a small fraction of the global issue.
1. Caviar
Caviar, known for its high price and status as a delicacy among the wealthy, might seem an unlikely candidate for black market trade. However, the illegal caviar industry has devastating effects, particularly on sturgeon populations, which have declined by 90% since the 1970s due to overfishing.
A global ban on wild caviar, implemented in the mid-2000s, failed to safeguard sturgeon populations and may have inadvertently fueled black market activity. In 2006, the Pew Institute for Ocean Science labeled sturgeons as “the most endangered wildlife resource globally.”
Sturgeons, having survived for 200 million years—outliving even the dinosaurs—now face a grave threat to their existence. While the demand for caviar remains strong, the illegal trade, generating $750 million annually, could lead to the extinction of wild sturgeon populations.
