1.5 million tonnes of timber worth $350 million was smuggled into China from Myanmar’s teak forests in 2006 from illegal logging activities.
Author: havocscope
Illegally Caught Caviar sold 10 times Initial Price
In the Caspian Sea, a kilogram of caviar sells for $300 to $500 on the black market. It is then sold in Europe and the United States at a price worth 10 times as much.
Caviar smuggling by Russian gangs
The Associated Press reported that “Russian crime gangs smuggle beluga caviar in suitcases, fetching $4,450 per kilogram in the retail market.”
Illegal Seafood Entering European Markets in 2008
Due to illegal fishing, up to $1.6 Billion of seafood enters the markets of Europe illegally each year.
Drop in Fishes in Caspian Sea
Illegal fishing activities has led to catches in the Caspian Sea to drop by 90 percent from historic highs.
Illegal caviar seizures in the EU
The Independent reported that ” EU countries imported 591 tonnes of caviar in 2006, but seizures of illegal caviar between 2000 and 2005 totaled just 12 tonnes.”
Over Half of Trafficking Business Takes Place in Africa
United Nations experts have stated that more than 60 percent of the human trafficking business was made in Africa, mostly south of the Sahara desert.
Number of Human Trafficking Victims as of 2006
In 2006, the US Department of State stated that 600,000 to 800,000 humans were trafficked around the world.
GAO Doubts on Trafficking Estimates
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) produced a study in July 2006 questioning the manner in which the State Department calculated its figure. The GAO stated that estimates are ” questionable” . In its Results in Brief section, the report states ” The accuracy of the estimates is in doubt because of methodological weaknesses, gaps in data, and numerical discrepancies.”
Human smuggling market profits from Africa to Europe
Human smuggling activities from Africa to Europe generates $400 Million in profits for the smugglers.