The illegal mining and sale of sand is the third largest criminal enterprise in the world, with estimates ranging from $200-350 billion worth of sand moving around the globe each year. This illicit business ranks only below product counterfeiting and drug trafficking in terms of criminal activities.
Organized criminal groups involved in illegal sand mining, often known as the “sand mafia,” operate in various regions worldwide, engaging in violent activities such as murder. While some sources suggest that the traffic in the illegal sand trade may not be as high as originally reported, the scale of the industry’s numbers remains significant.
Estimates suggest that around 10-15 billion tons of sand are extracted annually globally, with wholesale and retail transactions taking place. Retailing even small quantities of sand can significantly increase its cash flow, making it a lucrative enterprise for organized crime groups. Despite differences in reported figures, the illegal sand trade remains a profitable criminal activity with turnover estimates ranging from $50-100 billion. More conservative estimates place it at around $200 billion globally, with exact figures varying but underscoring its significant impact on the global economy and environment.
