Feds seized $1.6 billion in drug money on US-Mexico border in 2007
The $1.6 billion is out of a total $12 billion that is estimated to be smuggled over the border.
Source: “The sheriffs stash,” The Economist, July 12, 2008, page. 42.
On average, $7.8 million in Supernotes confiscated annually
Source: Peter Finn, “Probe Traces Global Reach of Counterfeiting Ring,” Washington Post, November 26, 2006.
Half of all seized counterfeit dollars in 2003 were from Colombia
Source: Bill Faries, “Made in South America: New Breed of Fake US Dollars,” Christian Science Monitor, April 14, 2005.
Less than 1 percent of total dollar supply is counterfeit
Source: Bill Faries, “Made in South America: New Breed of Fake US Dollars,” Christian Science Monitor, April 14, 2005.
Tenfold increase in seizure of ecstasy on US-Canada border
Seizures of ecstasy increased tenfold between 2003 and 2005 on the US-Canada border.
Source: Jane Gross, “Rise Seen in Trafficking of Enhanced Ecstasy“, New York Times, January 9, 2008.
United States Global Drug Trade $65 Billion
According to congressional testimony by the Drug Enforcement Administration, consumers in the United States spend $65 billion per year on illegal drugs.
Source: Joseph T. Rannazzisi, “Breaking the Methamphetamine Supply Chain: Law Enforcement Challenges,” Congressional Testimony, Senate Committee on Finance, September 12, 2006, (accessed: February 21, 2007).
Counterfeit Goods in the United States
A report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated that ” counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy between $200 billion and $250 billion per year and a total of 750,000 American jobs.”
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “The State of American Business 2007“, pg. 26, (accessed: January 8, 2007).
90 percent of guns seized in Mexico are from United States
Richard A. Serrano, “U.S. guns arm Mexican drug cartels,” Los Angeles Times, August 10, 2008.
40 percent of drug arrests in US for marijuana
According to Foreign Policy Magazine, in the United States “roughly 40 percent of the country’s 1.8 million annual drug arrests are for cannabis possession.”
Source: Ethan Nadelmann, “Think Again: Drugs,” Foreign Policy, Sept/Oct 2007.
50 percent of pirated movied are recorded in New York
According to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, 50 percent of illegally recorded movies are pirated in New York.
Source: Thomas S. Mulligan, “N.Y.’s Cuomo seeks crackdown on film piracy,” Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2008.
