While the name may have you to believe otherwise, the
black market is not a physical place. Thanks to television and film industries, you may get
the image of various shady people standing next to carts and stands trying to
sell you all types of illegal things but that’s not typically how the black
market works. The black market, which is also referred to as the underground
market, gets its name from the notion that the illegal selling and buying of
merchandise takes place out of sight of the watchful eyes of the government.
In the black market, either owning the item itself can be illegal or the
means of how the seller and the purchaser came to have them can be illegal.
Black markets exist all over the world but seem to flourish in heavily regulated
areas. You can buy anything from automobile parts, to children’s toys, to exotic
animals. There is a common misconception that everything bought via the black
market is less expensive if purchased legally but that is not always true.
Sometimes inexpensive items that are hard to acquire but are in high demand can be
sold for a lot of money on the black market. The main purpose of the black
market is for the seller to profit while meeting consumers demands but not
always their expectations.
15) Copyright Media
How many times have you gone to the movies or watched a DVD and had to sit
through those few seconds of reading that piracy warning? Well the black market
is the main reason that warning exists because people in countries where copyright law
isn’t strictly enforced have been illegally recording movies and selling them
for profit all over the world. Sellers, often called street vendors, get
the movies in their possession then sell the movies to consumers at heavily
discounted prices. These street vendors sell anything from television series,
video games and even movies still playing in theaters. They sell items out of
the trunk of their cars, out of backpacks and even on personal websites.
Due to advances in digital technology, many of the films that have been
illegally copied still retain the same qualities as the original.
Bootlegging media is illegal
14) Tobacco
In 2011, 43.8 million people smoked cigarettes in the United States alone. The
government has tried to do everything to deter cigarette use from posting
reports that link cigarette smoking with cancer and other health problems to
putting warning labels on cigarettes as well as cans of chewing tobacco. They’ve even
severely taxed cigarettes, making them more expensive for individuals to
purchase. In 1996, the average retail price for a pack of cigarettes in the
United States was around $1.86. Today, the average retail price for a pack for
cigarettes in the United States is over $5.00 due to an increase in government
taxes. Some states have high taxes, while others have lower taxes. Illegally
exporting and importing one truck full of cigarettes from a state with low taxes
to a state with high taxes can equal out to nearly one million dollars in
profit. The nicotine found in cigarettes is habit forming but the cost is too
expensive for many smokers. This motivates certain groups to participate in the
illegal smuggling of cigarettes and other tobacco products, making them cheaper
for the people illegally purchasing as well as selling the cigarettes but not necessarily
cheaper for the consumer.
Cigarettes can be sold illegally
13) Alcohol
You’ve probably heard about bootlegging, also known as rum-running, existing
during the prohibition era but did you know that the selling and purchasing of
illegal alcohol still currently takes places on the black market? Even in the
United States after the repeal of prohibition, bootlegging is still an activity
that takes place every day. Consumers can avoid paying taxes on alcohol by
buying liquor illegally transported. For instance, the state of Virginia has
lost over $20 million dollars from bootlegging activities. Many liquors and
spirits may be legal to purchase and own in some countries but illegal in
others. Various individuals find ways to import and export those liquors on the
black market to people who wouldn’t be able to purchase them otherwise.
Illegal Moonshine
12) Weapons
Guns, along with the people who wield them, are responsible for over 100,000 people
being shot each year. Similar to alcohol, some weapons are illegal to own in
certain countries. These countries have strict laws prohibiting consumers to
have certain weapons. With the black market, weapons are purchased legally, sometimes stolen,
from one or more countries and then sold illegally to other countries. This type
of activity usually benefits people such as gun collectors and criminals.
Criminals especially benefit from illegally purchasing guns over the black
market because it makes it harder for law enforcement to trace the criminal to
the crime due to the gun not being registered to them. Many people who
have shot or murdered someone else with a gun purchased on the black market get
away with their crimes.
Guns purchased illegally
11) Animals
Illegal animal purchases probably isn’t much of a shocker. Misguided individuals purchase rare
and
exotic animals on the black market every day. Smugglers and hunters are
thriving on selling animals both alive as well as dead to consumers. You can
purchase anything from Bengal tigers to orangutans. Some people are willing to
pay top dollar for animals that are illegal for them to have as pets. The
Philippine government condemned the buying and selling of the geckos, which some
believe can cure illnesses as well as diseases. However, making it illegal to
sell geckos hasn’t
actually stopped people from buying them. A gecko can be sold for $1,160.00, 50,000.00
pesos in their money, on the black market even if there is no proof that using them to cure
illnesses actually works. There of course are other animals and their furs,
which consumers purchase on the back market. Some zoos that aren’t heavily or
properly regulated may purchase animals for their exhibits. Many animals have
become endangered or even extinct due to poachers hunting them to sell things
like fur and ivory on the black market. The cost for buying these animals on the
black market varies. You could buy a live chimpanzee for $50, a live tiger for
$50,000 or even a pound of bear bile for up to $200,000.
Exotic Bengal Tiger
10) Almonds (and
other foods)
Did you know that package of raw almonds you picked up from the grocery store
isn’t actually raw? While it may say raw on the package, almost all almonds
purchased in the United States have to go through some form of pasteurization in
order to be sold legally. The reason being is that almonds contain a natural
ingredient used to make cyanide, which is an extremely deadly gas that has been
used during times of war. Because of certain issues within the law, only farmer
markets are allowed to sell completely raw almonds. Raw almonds have numerous
health benefits over pasteurized almonds and some people will seek out ways to
find them, this is where the black market comes in. Believe it or not, even
farmers will participate in the illegal selling of raw almonds to people on
local forums and websites. While almonds are definitely one sought out food
on the black market, it certain isn’t the only one. Pepinos, more commonly known
as sea cucumbers, are illegal in China and other areas because of over fishing.
Banning the fishing of sea cucumbers has only strengthened their demand in
the black market, especially with China. Sea cucumbers are seen as a rare
delicacy in many Asian countries and individuals from the countries are willing
to pay hefty prices for them.
Raw Almonds on a tree
Sea Cucumber
9) Sex Trafficking
and Prostitution
Sex trafficking and prostitution are two illegal operations that are booming all
over the world. With a bit of effort and a lot of risk, you can find several
different sex trafficking rings in various countries. Sex trafficking involves
selling human beings to other human beings for the purpose of sex. Many, if not
all, of those involved in sex trafficking are in it against their will. Sex
trafficking rings cater to different interests and fetishes of their clients
therefore, you can find men, women and children in sex trafficking rings. Some
of these forced sex workers are runaways or have been kidnapped or sold by their
own families. People living in a country with strict rules and laws against
human trafficking travel to other countries where the laws aren’t heavily
enforced in order to participate in illegal activities. Prostitution is another
activity that seems to flourish on the back market. While prostitution may not
seem like too bad when it comes to other illegal activities, both the sex worker
and the person paying for sex run the risk of contracting sexually transmitted
diseases. Not only that, there are other dangerous risks
involved including jail time, bodily harm and even death. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop
people. Some people have specific interests and fetishes where some sex workers
involved in prostitution are willing to offer those things for a price.
Human Trafficking
8) Transportation
Public transportation providers such as buses, subways and taxicabs are legal
because the government regulates them. However, in certain areas using
public transportation can be expensive or difficult to get to and it's for this reason
that transportation provided by the black market does extremely well. In many
United States cities, individuals offer private carpooling and something similar
to taxicab services where people pay private unlicensed companies to be driven
to their destinations. Some people involved in illegal transportation services
do not even realize that they are illegal. In contrast to a carpool with your
coworkers where you might pay them money for gas costs, an illegal
transportation service usually involves you not knowing the person providing you
with transportation and they are able to charge you any cost, completely
pocketing any profits they receive from you as well as other people paying for their services.
Legal transportation services companies pay taxes and are required to have
insurance for their drivers as well as proper licenses. An illegal
transportation service may not have any of these things and unless you’re
adamant about checking, you might later discover that the person driving you
around doesn’t even have a license.
Illegal Transportation can be found on the black market
7) Sugar
That’s right, that sweet substance that you use to sweeten your coffee or cereal
can also be purchased on the black market. It’s pretty easy to purchase
common household sugar and even turbinado, raw sugar, in the United States but
certain countries, like Malaysia, have set up a black market for it because it’s
much harder to come by. Turbinado is a healthy type of sugar that is brown in
color and it doesn’t have as many calories as white sugar, which is healthier for your
body. For those who live in Malaysia there are only a limited
amount of companies who are legally allowed to sell turbinado, which means an
increase in price for consumers. Those consumers not wanting to pay hefty prices
for the healthier sugar can obtain it over the black market but as usual it’s
not without its risks. Cheaper sugar sometimes means it was poorly handled and
sugar is a breeding ground for certain bacteria as well as bugs that can
cause serious health risks to a person who consumes them. Not only that, an
increase in sugar consumption, even of sugar that is better for you, can lead to
health problems such as diabetes.
Turbinado
6) Holy Water
You read that right, even holy water can be and is sold on the black
market. In fact, many British Muslims have been warned that buying holy water
from various criminal gangs is extremely dangerous. Criminals are telling
British Muslims that the fake ‘Zam Zam’ water comes from Mecca but this is a
lie. The water is actually from a spring, which is considered to be holy and
visited by Muslims during their Hajj pilgrimage each year. This spring contains
both arsenic and nitrates that can be fatal if consumed regularly. The tainted
water can be purchased from various places in Britain. An Islamic bookshop was
found to have sold around 20,000 liters, around 5,283 gallons, of Zam Zam water
per week. This water is clearly unsafe for anyone to drink but people make
millions selling it to naive and unsuspecting Muslims. Criminals selling the
tainted liquid can make £3 for a small can, which transfers to about $1.60 USD.
The Saudi Arabian government strictly watches authentic Zam Zam water and it is
illegal to export it commercially. There is also belief that criminals were
simply mixing common tap water and mixing it with salt to sell to Muslims who
thought they were getting the real deal.
Holy Zam Zam water in Mecca
5) Sperm
You can even get sperm on the black market, especially in China. If that’s
not shocking enough for you, many times, you can get it for free. The
sperm banks in China have a limited number of sperm donors and couples who have
issues becoming pregnant are turning to the black market for help. These couples
rely on forums, websites and postings to find potential donors who meet the
specifications. Just like with anything else on the black market, buying sperm
can be dangerous. First of all, relying on donors from the black market means
that the entire process isn’t monitored by the licensed doctors. Improper
storing of sperm may lead to the procedure not working, not to mention some
donors may have health issues and illnesses that they can pass on to women as
well as their unborn child. Some couples wishing to get pregnant are willing to
deal with the risks and search for donors who state that they’re going to help.
When sperm donation companies run into roadblocks, couples turn to the black
market in hopes of adding another addition to their family.
Sperm
4) Japanese Flight
Attendant Uniforms
Japan Airlines and Flight Attendants
Courtesy of
japology.com
The black market sells everything from shoes, to purses, to jewelry and even
Japanese flight attendant uniforms. Due to bankruptcy issues concerning
Japan Airlines, the company had to lay off lots of people that included several flight
attendants. If the bankruptcy wasn’t bad enough, flight attendants were not
returning their uniforms and chose to sell them on the black market instead.
You’re probably wondering why anyone would even want a used flight attendant
uniform but there are several reasons why someone would buy one. Some criminals
may want to purchase an authentic Japan Air flight attendant uniform as a means
of helping them get through security at some airports. Others have a desire to
use the uniforms in pornographic movies in the adult industry, while ome people even
look up Japanese Airlines flight attendant uniforms for something as harmless as cosplay. Regardless of what people want the uniforms for, Japan Airlines is
unhappy. Already dealing with the fact that their company is struggling, they
don’t need any more bad publicity. Countries that have no idea of Japan
Airlines’ company issues may be even more reluctant to do business with Japan
Airlines if they believe the company to be linked with questionable or dangerous
activities.
3) Video Game Scores
Massively Multiple Online Role-Playing Games, better known as MMORPGs, are
becoming more and more popular each year. In fact, some of these games can be
downright addicting. Players of these games put in hours of time and effort,
building up their characters as well as obtaining virtual money for their game
accounts. People who make a profit on the black market have discovered that
hacking a player’s account or even resulting to physical violence for their
passwords then selling them to other people via the black market for real money
is an illegal service that is in high demand. Unsuspecting players have lost
time, effort and even money from hackers hacking into their account and stealing
not only their passwords but sometimes even their personal information along
with their identity. With various MMORPGs being developed, the demand for passwords and
accounts for gamers with high rankings are becoming more popular than ever.
World of Warcraft, Online Gaming MMORPG
2) Cosmetic and
Plastic Surgery
There are countless stories of people getting inexpensive plastic,
cosmetic surgery or injections and having horrific results. Many of
these surgeries and injections can be directly related to the black market. Many
individuals displeased with their appearance but not wanting to pay thousands
of dollars for legal procedures by a licensed surgeon travel to various
countries where people, usually untrained and unlicensed, offer those same
procedures for much cheaper. More often than not, the procedures are extremely
dangerous and individuals have been found using harmful substances on unsuspecting patients. There has even been a case, which involved a
woman injecting patients with chemicals found in tire sealant and sealing those
injections sites with cement for patients wanting to enhance their rear ends.
These risky surgeries and procedures can lead to things like staph infections,
disfigurement as well as death. Still hundreds of people are wiling to risk their
health and lives for a "beauty" procedure.
Cosmetic surgery can be found on the black market
1) Organs
You’ve probably heard someone joke about having to sell a kidney but the truth
is people sell things like organs, bones, hair and blood on the black market
every day. These are some of the most sought out items on the black market and
some people are desperate enough to sell them for the right amount of money. The
illegal trade of kidneys has risen to the point where around
10,000 operations on the black market take place every year. The demand for
human organs is so high that many people will travel to certain countries and
pay up to $200,000 for a kidney that has been harvested from someone for as
little as $5,000. It goes without saying that there are numerous risks involved
with selling and buying organs on the black market. You run the risk of
illnesses, diseases and of course death. Organ harvesters depend on the
desperation and vulnerability of victims, allowing them to profit. If you’re
wondering how much certain organs cost, the answer is that it varies from
country to country. In the United States a kidney can sell for as much as
$262,000, while in China the selling price is $62,000 then in India it drops down
to $15,000. Other prices for organs and other body parts: $2,519 for small
intestine, a heart for $119,000 and a scalp for $607.
Human organs can be harvested for the black market
Conclusion
Even though purchasing something off the black market may sound tempting, you
have to remember that it is extremely illegal. What sounds too good to be true
usually is. Many people have gotten sick and even died from purchasing illegal
items, such as: food, medicines and undergoing surgeries by untrained as
well as unlicensed individuals. The illegal selling and purchasing of rare as
well as
endangered animals may result in harmful effects on nature along with wildlife.
Due to the fact that the items you purchase on the black market are acquired illegally, you aren’t
able to hold anyone at fault for any defects. This means you’re stuck with
your damaged goods and the seller isn’t held responsible for it. If law
enforcement catches you with illegally acquired items, you’ll be the one
charged and not the person you bought them from. Operating illegal services might
be a quick way to make money but you risk things such as losing your job, your
home and even jail time. The black market can be both dangerous and sneaky. You
may see something online that you believe to be legal to purchase but you might
be wrong. If you’re interested in saving money, make sure you do your research
on the items you wish to buy to rule out the chances of illegally buying
something from someone. Gangs and other organized crime members pray on the
naive as well as unsuspecting, don’t be the next one of their victims.
