In 2008, there were more than 30 million counterfeit 1 Pound coins in circulation, meaning one in every 50 pounds is counterfeit.

Source:  Ben Ando, “Number of fake £1 coins ‘doubles’ ,” BBC News,September 22, 2008.

A government report in South Korea has found that luxury brand Chanel is the most counterfeited brand in the country.

Source: “‘Chanel’ No. 1 Fake Brand in S. Korea,” Korea Times,September 21, 2008.

The son of US Congressman Allen Boyd (D-Florida) was arrested for smuggling illegal immigrants in the state of Arizona.

The immigrants each paid $3,000 to John Boyd to be smuggled into the United States.

From the Tampa Tribune.

Police in Brazil kill 3 people every day, or 1 in 5 of the total amount of people killed in Rio de Janeiro.

Source: Associated Press, “UN: Brazil police linked to 1 in 5 Rio murders,” USA Today, September 15, 2008.

Source: “Brothel industry ‘spreading’“, BBC News, September 4, 2008.

A Singapore tycoon was sentenced to jail for one day for his attempt to illegally buy a kidney on the black market.

Tang Wee Sung entered a contract to purchase a kidney for $300,000.

Source:  Jason Gale and Quah Chin Chin, “Singapore Tycoon to Be Jailed in Cash-for-Kidney Case,” Bloomberg, September 3, 2008.

In 2008, the Governor of Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank told a conference that 10,000 people were entering Zimbabwe each month to traffic in illegal diamonds.

Source:  “Billions Lost Through Diamond Smuggling,” Herald, August 29, 2008.