13 Biggest Illegal Businesses Around the World
January 7, 2019

It’s not a secret that illegal business is one of the most profitable ventures across the globe. The most unpopular of them, the drug trafficking covers a major part of the revenue of all illegal criminal activities. According to the United Nations Corporation on Drug and Crime, the illegal drug trade alone attracts more than $600 billion in profit annually.
These activities are always a big challenge for the government and also pose a big threat to the nation’s economy and environment. Most countries have strict laws against these kinds of illegal things, despite this, illegal businesses are expanding at an alarming rate. We have gathered some of the most unethical and illegal businesses across the globe that have left a large negative impact on many nations’ economy.

13. Bootlegging/ Rum Running

Bootlegging or rum running is a term given to an illegal business which includes illicit transportation of alcohol. One of the earliest known instances of alcohol smuggling was recorded during the American civil war, when ships illegally started transporting cheap Caribbean rum to the United States through Florida.
Though old, alcohol smuggling is still practiced in many countries by organized criminals. They illegally trade alcohol to avoid tax and minimum purchase price. The United Kingdom’s government fails to collect an estimated tax of $2 billion due to illegal alcohol smuggling activities. Moreover, bootlegged alcohol causes thousands of deaths annually because of low quality and standard.

12 Trafficking of Cultural Property

Any cultural property is a physical entity that is an integral part of our cultural heritage. It may include monuments of any size, from historic buildings to small artifacts and paintings. Cultural property theft is a rising concern for historians and the United Nations as it threatens the existence of our cultural identity.
The significant increment in the number of thefts over the last few couples of years has gathered more systematic attention from museums, non-profit and law enforcement agencies, many of which have now published websites to inform people about stolen, missing and recovered artwork.

11. Human Organs Trafficking

Human organ trading involves illegal buying or selling of human organs for transplantation. Commercial trading of organs is prohibited throughout the world except for Iran. According to a news report, each year about 2000 Indians sell their kidneys illegally for as low as $5000, and those were later sold as much as $200,000 per transplant. Another report by Global Financial Integrity estimates that illegal organ trades make a profit between $600 million and $1.2 billion a year.

10. Illegal Weapon Trafficking

Illegal weapon traffickers deal from explosives, small guns, light weapons to heavy machine guns. The illegal weapon trading is directly responsible for the increase of terrorist activities around the world. As per reports, every year an estimated 63 million guns have been trafficked to India and Pakistan.
It is very difficult to guess the total size of the illegal arms trade market. The United States and Africa are considered as the countries with the most illicit weapons. An estimated value of illegal arms trafficking is around $60 billion a year, which is about 20% of the total global arms trade.

9. Illicit Crude Oil Trade

Illegal oil trading is a major problem in some countries, including those in Africa and Asia. It is estimated that more than 100,000 oil barrels are smuggled out each day from various parts of the world. In Mexico, oil companies lose $700 million annually when thieves tap into their oil pipelines. Every year, a large part of the oil is attacked by the Somalia pirates on the coast of Somalia. It is estimated that illegal oil makes more than $15 billion every year.

8. Wildlife Trafficking

The illegal wildlife trade includes everything from exotic pets, meat, and skins of wild animals, freshwater tortoise and turtles to monitor lizards and shark’s fin. Between 2007 and 2012, the poaching of rhinos is increased to 5000%. Some major examples of illegal wildlife trade are elephants for its teeth and lion and tigers for their skins. In 2015, the profit generated in this business was around $32 billion.

8. Money Laundering and Shell Companies

For the sake of simplicity, money laundering is a process of transforming the profits from other illegal business to a “legitimate” asset. One of the many ways of doing that is to create shell companies. A shell company, though not illegal, are without any sort of active business operation and physical assets. Most of the times they are used to cover up illegal revenues from law enforcement.

7. IUU Fishing
iuu fishingImage Courtesy: Noaa
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing takes place when fishing vessels operate by violating laws (defined by the local and central government) for the fishery. As per the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), illegal fishing causes loss of about $23 billion per year, with about 30 percent of illegal fishing across the world happening in Indonesia alone.

6. Illegal Mining


All mining activities that happen without state permission, mining license, mineral transportation limit, and in the absence of land rights, come under illegal mining. Illegal natural resource extraction becomes pressing when global mineral prices are soaring.
It can belong to a massive-organized crime led by small criminals and mining syndicates, or it can be a subsistence activity, as is the case with artisanal mining.

5. Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the aim of forced labor and illegal trades of organs, surrogacy or forced marriages. It is one of the fastest growing illegal activities around the world. In 2010, human trafficking has an estimated international trade of over $30 billion. In case of child trafficking, more than 30% of trafficked people were less than 18-year-old.

4. Illegal Logging


Illegal logging is the term given to the process where wood or timber is harvested, sold and bought without the consent of the national or local government and in the clear violation of national laws.
Illegality could also take place during transport, for example, illegal processing and export, avoidance of taxes, a fraudulent declaration to customs, and fraudulent certification.

3. Drug Trafficking
drug traffickingThe U.S Coast Guards offloading seized drugs in Miami Beach, 2014
Drug trafficking is one of the biggest and most dangerous illegal businesses in the world. According to a UN report, in 2003, the global illegal drug trade generated an estimated revenue of about $320 billion and in 2016, the number jumped to an estimated $500 billion.
Even though drug trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon, developed countries like the United States and Mexico are badly affected by drug-related crime. Based on FBI reports, during the 1990s, around 5% of the total US citizens died annually because of illegal drugs. Small to medium scale online drug trades have also risen in recent years.

2. Counterfeiting
CounterfeitA counterfeit replica of an authentic flash memory IC
Any produced replica of any product that is unauthorized is a part of counterfeiting. They are the dummy or copied versions of the real products. A Counterfeit product includes clothes, shoes, electronic products, art and pirate software, and movies. It also includes fake company logos and brands.
According to the 2007 OECD report, the market of counterfeit goods crossed more than $250 billion worldwide. The counterfeiting of goods is completely banned in numerous places still Counterfeit money is the most popular and major problem in many countries.
Money counterfeiting is a worldwide concern, which is experienced by various developed and developing nations from time to time. If you are thinking that currency counterfeiting is more of a recent phenomenon, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Historians believe that the origin of currency counterfeiting is probably of the same age as the currency itself.
In simple terms, counterfeit money is an imitation of an actual currency without the legal nod from the national government of the concerned nation. If went unnoticed, currency counterfeit can drain any nation’s economy by causing unparallel inflation and various economic problems.

1. Unethical Hacking/ Cyber Attack

There was a time when computer ‘masterminds’ use to break into other systems to achieve their personal agenda just for fun and some social work. But all changed in the wake of the 21st century. Now hacking has become more like a business, where a team of ‘professional’ hackers raid systems of big companies and make them hostage (figuratively speaking) and demand for ransom.
According to a report, global cyber attacks in 2016 cost several companies over $450 billion, excluded millions of stolen documents and records.


Written by
Varun Kumar
Varun Kumar is a professional science and technology journalist and a big fan of AI, machines, and space exploration. He received a Master's degree in computer science from GGSIPU University. To find out about his latest projects, feel free to directly email him at varunkmr09@gmail.com.

Most legit businesses are owned by criminals who engage in illegal businesses.

Why the Obi Cubana on the topic OP?

JubrinElSudan:
Why the Obi Cubana on the topic OP?

They are all having sleepless nights

Mehn the envy is really real.

This one just go do copy and paste because you want to tarnish someones name.

delzbaba:
This one just go do copy and paste because you want to tarnish someones name.

He ended up tarnishing his writing image/career!

@Seniorwriter

delzbaba:
This one just go do copy and paste because you want to tarnish someones name.

Not everything you see is white or black. If hussypuppi is not arrested, you guys would not see him as criminals. Invictus obi is another guy. He has many businesses, now serving jail terms in US.


https://www.nairaland.com/6656023/obi-cubana-13-biggest-illegal-businesses

joyandfaith:

Not everything you see is white or black. If hussypuppi is not arrested, you guys would not see him as criminals. Invictus obi is another guy. He has many businesses, now serving jail terms in US.


https://www.nairaland.com/6656023/obi-cubana-13-biggest-illegal-businesses

So what should we do

People are quick to jump into conclusion...... As for me, I celebrate with those who are celebrating and morn with those who morn .

I no get time to use paracetamol on another headache

☹️☹️Wetin come bring Obi Cubaña name
into this useless post❓❔❓

joyandfaith:

Not everything you see is white or black. If hussypuppi is not arrested, you guys would not see him as criminals. Invictus obi is another guy. He has many businesses, now serving jail terms in US.


https://www.nairaland.com/6656023/obi-cubana-13-biggest-illegal-businesses

Have you carried out an investigation and have facts to back up your suggestion?

Prince has decided to teach 500 individuals *"how to build professional blogs and business websites without writing codes"

chat me up on this no so i can add you
07012039012

P.S: IT'S 2000 NAIRA ONLY
TRAINING STARTS ON THE 9TH OF AUGUST

Hustle that is all I have to tell you!

joyandfaith:

Not everything you see is white or black. If hussypuppi is not arrested, you guys would not see him as criminals. Invictus obi is another guy. He has many businesses, now serving jail terms in US.


https://www.nairaland.com/6656023/obi-cubana-13-biggest-illegal-businesses

Please show me any video where Obi cubana was spraying bundles of cash on people or wasting money lavishly during this burial? All i see is people willingly spending on him.

Obi cubana matter go kee una

joyandfaith:
Most legit businesses are owned by criminals who engage in illegal businesses.

Exactly how they launder their money.

Afonjas wlll not sleep well for the next 1month

joyandfaith:
Most legit businesses are owned by criminals who engage in illegal businesses.

You are a mumu man

OP hope you are aware that this is cyberbullying which is a criminal offense cos it has not been proven in any court of law.

Jealousy is not an excuse to tarnish his image. I don't need to know how he made his money but this write up selfish cos there are no facts to back up.

Afonja is the problem of this country

Umunne for how long are we going to be country men with these envious people.

Biko, to hell with 2023 presidency let's come together and leave this country for these people.

JubrinElSudan:
Why the Obi Cubana on the topic OP?

was asking the same question 2.

Why so much hate cos he’s got his money ? Hustle for yours my G

Which of them is Obi Cubana involved in, Nomadic alamajiri?

Legal or illegal, I just want to make it. The sapastic days have lasted so long

Jealous Ones Still Envy.

Black men are the problem facing fellow blacks.
They problem is ENVY.

You've spent some 2 pages or more discussing details of illicit business, now tell us why Obi Cubana's name is attached to your post.

chidyke77:
Black men are the problem facing fellow blacks.
They problem is ENVY.

You're using the word ENVY incorrectly. Envy is actually constructive and desirable. You envy your fellow man's success and so your envy causes you to step up your "hustle" in order to get to his level and even surpass him because you know that you are capable of it, this makes envy is a masculine trait. The word that you're looking for here is JEALOUSY. Jealousy is destructive. You are jealous of your fellow man's success and so your jealousy causes you to seek to destroy him, you do this because you know that you have not the means, resources or talents to even approach his level, this makes jealousy a feminine trait. So the original poster is simply jealous and therefore effeminate because he/she know that Obi Cubana's level is unattainable.