African Illegal Black Market Trading  [blak-mahr-kit] n. the illicit buying and selling of goods in violation of legal price controls, rationing, etc.

 Africa Black Markets Value: $17.15 Billion  Countries  Market Value  Egypt Egypt  Million  Ivory Coast Ivory Coast  38 Million  Kenya Kenya  747 Million  Morocco Morocco  Billion  Nigeria Nigeria  1.69 Billion  Somalia Somalia  120 Million  South Africa South Africa  1.40 Billion  Zimbabwe Zimbabwe  204 Million

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 Ivory trading markets consume an estimated 12,000 elephants for ivory per year.  A Rhino horn can fetch more than $100,000 in the black market.  Some websites selling ivory still exist, claim to buy and sell pre- ban ivory elephant tusks; such as  Ivory may bring in between $30- 1,000+ per pound. Yet as the elephant population decreases, poachers are questioning ways to keep profit up. With the killing of male elephants, the population of the elephants only has the chance to decrease.

 Ivory is considered a precious commodity around the world, yet Asia has many uses considered nearly sacred.  Ivory is sometimes processed down to pill form and used as medication. Some medical practitioners believe components of the ivory may be able to treat fever or convulsions.  Ivory is often carved into statues or other symbols and sold at markets.

 The illegal trafficking of human beings is the third largest black-market crime in the world, generating $5 to $9 billion in revenue each year.  The average price to ship a human from Africa to America is $2,200.  Close to Home: An estimated 15,000 people are trafficked into the US each year; 50% of those being children.  Over 800,000 are trafficked globally each year.

 In 2009, criminal gangs cut about 7,000 cubic meters of timber.  Deforestation causes loss of environment for animals from that area, as well as many indigenous tribes.  The wood would be transported to Asia at prices of $5,000 a cubic meter.  World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC) is financing a Singapore-based trading group (OLAM) specializing in the trade of timber in Africa’s Congo forests.

 Many of the small arms are stolen from government and looted from state armories. This causes a military loss, as well as a monetary loss for that country.  Unauthorized production of firearms may reach up to many hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.  U.S money is used to control cross border trading of illegal firearms.  FACT: Of the 20 countries listed as experiencing the lowest levels of human development (all of which are in Africa) more than 50% have been subject to significant levels of armed violence since 1990.

Arm Trading Routes and Profit

 Over- all Picture Black market goods are not able to be taxed, due to that the goods are not under the government’s supervision. The country that the goods are coming from, make no profit from the trade. All profits directly end up in the trader’s pocket.

McKenna, Virginia. "Born Free Foundation." Born Free Foundation, Web. 11 Nov "WWF Issues: Illegal hunting and trade." Issues: Illegal hunting and trade Word Wildlife Foundation, Web. 11 Nov "Havoc Scopes Black Market." Africa Black Markets Havoc Scope, Web. 11 Nov Federation of American Scientists." The Illicit Arms Trade in Africa F.A.S, Web. 11 Nov Bibliography