7 Biggest Illegal Businesses Across The Globe

2. Counterfeit and Pirated Goods
Global Revenue in 2012: $250 Billion
Overall Rank in Revenue: 2

Counterfeit consumer goods are by explained as the goods violating the rights of a trade mark holder by displaying a trade mark which is either indistinguishable to a protected trade mark or by using an identification mark which "cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from such trade mark”.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report which said that the value of counterfeit goods even crossed international borders at over $250 billion in 2007. That is even more than other plagues of the underworld market, like weapons smuggling and human trafficking. It even rivals the international trade in illegal drugs.

The value of counterfeit goods detained at U.S. borders plunged 40 percent in one year, from 2007 to 2008, while Europe detained over 50 percent additional during that same year.

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