Financial Value of Criminal Activities

Listed below are all black market products and activities ranked by financial value.  The estimated values of the goods sold on the black market are based upon publicly available information researched by Havocscope. Data sources include government agencies, international organizations, intellectual property lawyers, police arrest reports and media publications. Click on the product name to see all source documentation and additional crime statistics.

The products listed below make up half of the Havocscope Illicit Trade Value.

** Values for Organized Crime, Corruption, and Money Laundering are not included in this listing due to its overlapping nature.

>> View by alphabetical listing

>>Latest black market information

  • VALUE in U.S. DOLLARS
  1. Counterfeit Drugs$200 Billion
  2. Prostitution$187.17 Billion
  3. Counterfeit Electronics$169 Billion
  4. Marijuana$141.80 Billion
  5. Illegal Gambling$140 Billion
  6. Cocaine$85 Billion
  7. Prescription Drugs $72.5 Billion
  8. Heroin$68 Billion
  9. Software Piracy$63 Billion
  10. Oil Theft$53.64 Billion
  11. Illegal Tobacco$50 Billion
  12. Counterfeit Foods$49 Billion
  13. Counterfeit Auto Parts$45 Billion
  14. Counterfeit Toys$34 Billion
  15. Human Trafficking$32 Billion
  16. Illegal Logging$30 Billion
  17. Methamphetamine$28.25 Billion
  18. Illegal Fishing$23.5 Billion
  19. Human Smuggling$20 Billion
  20. Wildlife Trafficking$19 Billion
  21. Ecstasy$16.07 Billion
  22. Music Piracy$12.5 Billion
  23. Counterfeit Shoes$12 Billion
  24. Counterfeit Clothing$12 Billion
  25. Waste Dumping$11 Billion
  26. Art Theft$10 Billion
  27. Cable Piracy$8.5 Billion
  28. Video Game Piracy$8.1 Billion
  29. Counterfeit Sporting Goods$6.5 Billion
  30. Counterfeit Pesticides$5.8 Billion
  31. Bootlegging$4.3 Billion
  32. Mobile Entertainment Piracy$3.4 Billion
  33. Counterfeit Cosmetics$3.0 Billion
  34. Movie Piracy$2.5 Billion
  35. Metals and Minerals Smuggling$2.3 Billion
  36. Counterfeit Aircraft Parts$2 Billion
  37. Counterfeit Weapons$1.8 Billion
  38. Kidnap and Ransom$1.5 Billion
  39. International Adoptions$1.3 Billion
  40. Fake Diplomas and Degrees$1 Billion
  41. Arms Trafficking$1 Billion
  42. Counterfeit Watches$1 Billion
  43. Book Piracy$0.6 Billion ($600 Million)
  44. Counterfeit Money$0.182 Billion ($182 Million)
  45. Nuclear Smuggling$0.1 Billion ($100 Million)
  46. Counterfeit IDs and Passports$0.1 Billion ($100 Million)
  47. Organ Trafficking$0.075 Billion ($75 Million)
  48. Counterfeit Purses$0.07 Billion ($70 Million)
  49. Counterfeit Lighters$0.042 Billion ($42 Million)
  50. Counterfeit Batteries$0.023 Billion ($23 Million)