The illegal excavation of sand from unauthorized places and the smuggling and selling of this sand constitute the world’s third-largest criminal enterprise, with estimates suggesting that between $200-$350 billion worth of sand is traded globally annually. However, some experts argue that the actual size of the sand business may not be as large as reported by Scientific American, but the general order of magnitude remains accurate.
The discrepancies in the estimates may be due to factors such as whether gravel is included in the calculations along with sand. In euros, the illegal sand trade amounts to around $50 billion euros. Only product counterfeiting and drug trafficking surpass the sand trade in terms of criminal activity, with human trafficking also coming close in terms of revenue generation.
Organized criminal groups, often referred to as “sand mafias,” conduct the illegal sand trade using violent means to carry out their operations, resulting in numerous deaths in countries like India. Other regions known for illegal sand mining activities include Southeast Asia, sea areas around China, North Korea, and Morocco. The turnover of the illegal sand trade is estimated based on the amount of sand extracted globally, which ranges from 10-15 billion tons per year.
While there are varying estimates regarding the turnover of the illegal sand trade, it is clear that it is a significant criminal enterprise with global implications. The price of sand ranges from $10-$15 dollars per ton in richer countries, with higher retail prices further boosting its revenue. Despite uncertainties in exact figures, it is evident that tackling organized crime groups involved in illegal mining activities should be a top priority for governments worldwide.
