This article was first published 12 years ago
World's 8 biggest illegal businesses
Last updated on: May 7, 2013 12:19 IST
Image: A woman smokes a joint during a rally against drug trafficking and in favour for the legalisation of self-cultivation of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes in Valparaiso city, about 121km northwest of Santiago, Chile.
Photographs: Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters
While majority of world's trade is legal, a large part of it is illegal. Athorities all across the world, including in India, are continously taking steps to stop the flow of illegal businesses, but it continues to increase.
Let's take a look at eight illegal activities that generate most revenue in the world.
Source: The Economist
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Image: A woman smokes a large marijuana joint at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 4/20 day, which promotes the use of marijuana, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Photographs: Ben Nelms/Reuters
Drug trafficking
Global revenue in 2012: $320 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 1
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Image: A police officer immerses a counterfeit dollar bill in liquid to show its quality during a media conference in Lima, Peru.
Photographs: Enrique Castro-Mendivil/Reuters
Counterfeit and pirated goods
Global revenue in 2012: $250 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 2
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Image: Sex workers in Sydney, Australia.
Photographs: Tim Wimborne/Reuters
Human trafficking
Global revenue in 2012: $32 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 3
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Image: A baby monkey, a lion cub and tiger cubs play at the Guaipo Manchurian Tiger Park in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. Photo is for representation purpose only.
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Wildlife trafficking
Global revenue in 2012: $19 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 4
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Image: A man carries petrol in a plastic bag in Brasilia, Brazil.
Photographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
Oil trade
Global revenue in 2012: $11 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 5
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Image: A man fishes in the waters of the Black Sea in Sochi, Russia.
Photographs: Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters
Fishing
Global revenue in 2012: $10 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 6
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Image: Logs cut from the Amazon rainforest are transported by barge to a shipping port, just off Marajo Island near the mouth of the Amazon River, in Brazil.
Photographs: Raimundo Pacco/Reuters
Logging
Global revenue in 2012: $10 billion
Overall rank in revenue: 7
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Image: People cross a street after rainfall in central Auckland, New Zealand. Photo is for representation purpose only.
Photographs: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Human organs
Global revenue in 2012: $600 million
Overall rank in revenue: 8
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