48 percent of waste shipments in EU were illegal
In the European Union, an enforcement operation found 48 percent of waste shipments were illegal.
Source: United Nations Environment Programme, “Basel Conference Addresses Electronic Waste Challenge,” Press Release, November 27, 2006, (accessed: January 9, 2007).
49 cases of hazardous waste smuggling in China in 2006
49 cases of hazardous waste smuggling containing 8,000 tons of solid waste were uncovered by Chinese Custom officials in 2006.
Source: Xinhua, “China customs uncover waste smuggling cases,” China Daily, January 31, 2007, (accessed: February 1, 2007).
Indonesia loses $1 billion a year to illegal logging
The government of Indonesia losses an estimated $1 billion a year in lost revenue and taxes due to illegal logging.
Source: Duncan Brack, “Illegal Logging: Briefing Paper, August 2006, Chatham House: Energy Environment and Development Programme,(accessed: December 15, 2007).
US Companies lose $460 million each year to illegal logging
Companies in the United States lose at least $460 million each year as world prices are depressed between 7 -16 percent by the availability of illegal logging products.
Source: Duncan Brack, “Illegal Logging: Briefing Paper, August 2006, Chatham House: Energy Environment and Development Programme,(accessed: December 15, 2007).
60 to 70 percent of timber imported into EU may be illegal
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 60 to 70 percent of the tropical timber imported into the European Union may have been cut illegally.
$350 million of timber smuggled into China from Myanmar’s forrest
1.5 million tonnes of timber worth $350 million was smuggled into China from Myanmar’s teak forests in 2006.
Source: “Myanmar wildlife pays the price for Chinese demand,” Reuters UK, September 3, 2007.
Black market 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.
Source: C.J. Chivers, ” Corruption Endangers a Treasure of the Caspian,” York Times, November 28, 2005.
Russian gangs smuggle $4,450 per kilo of caviar
The Associated Press reported that “Russian crime gangs smuggle beluga caviar in suitcases, fetching $4,450 per kilogram in the retail market.”
Source: Associated Press, ” Crime syndicates smuggling wildlife,” Yahoo News, June 7, 2007.
10 times more sturgeon caught illegally than legally
An estimated 10 times more sturgeon is caught illegally than under officially regulated fishing.
Source: Shaun Walker, “Caviar: The black market in black gold,” The Independent, December 28, 2007.
$1.6 billion of seafood enters Europe illegally each year
Source: Elizabeth Rosenthal,“Something’s fishy as Europe dines,”International Herald Tribune, January 14, 2008, (accessed: January 14, 2008).
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