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This article was first published 10 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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Tags: India

World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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World's 8 biggest illegal businesses

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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