The Shadow Sand Economy: How Organized Crime Syndicates Are Shaping Up to Be the World’s Third Largest Criminal Enterprise

The illegal sand trade has become the world’s third largest criminal enterprise, generating an estimated 200-350 billion dollars annually. However, some experts believe that the actual size of the business may be slightly exaggerated due to factors such as including gravel in the calculations. Nonetheless, even conservative estimates place the turnover of illegal sand trade at around $50-100 billion, which translates to a significant amount of money in euros.

Organized crime syndicates, often referred to as the sand mafia, are heavily involved in the illegal digging and transportation of sand. These criminal organizations resort to violent means, with reports of murders linked to sand mafias in countries like India. The illegal sand trade is prevalent in various regions including Southeast Asia, China’s coastal areas, North Korea, and Morocco.

Although the exact figures regarding the global sand trade remain uncertain, estimates suggest that around 10-15 billion tons of sand are moved annually. Taking into account the prices of sand in different markets, the turnover of the illegal sand trade is believed to be in the range of 50-100 billion dollars. Retail prices for sand can be significantly higher, contributing to the substantial profits generated by the illicit sand business.

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