When we think of smuggling, we often picture items like drugs, jewels, or antiques. However, food is also a surprising but significant contender in the world of illegal trade. Many of the world’s most expensive foods are smuggled due to various factors, including high demand and complex food regulations. Here are some of the most frequently smuggled food items.
Caviar
The most expensive caviar comes from the critically endangered beluga sturgeon that swims in the Caspian Sea. Just one kilogram of this high-quality caviar can sell for thousands of dollars. Governments have placed strict regulations to safeguard sturgeon populations.
However, the high demand for caviar has led to a black market. Smugglers often use fake labels to avoid getting caught, taking advantage of the enormous profits. This makes it a prime target for smuggling operations, as illustrated by cases like the 2004 conviction of Optimus, Inc., a major caviar importer caught purchasing tons of smuggled product.
Pearl Lobsters
Pearl lobsters are among the rarest and most expensive lobster varieties, fetching nearly $100 per kilogram. Despite bans on their export since 2016, the illicit trade of lobster larvae continues, driven by high demand in markets like Singapore and Vietnam. In 2022, authorities intercepted smugglers transporting $2.2 million worth of pearl lobsters from Indonesia to Singapore.
The ingenious smugglers exploit Singapore’s busy and strategic ports to avoid getting caught by Indonesian authorities. Indonesia loses an estimated millions in revenue per year due to illicit exports. Researchers and environmentalists are urging tighter regulations and closer monitoring of Indonesia’s lobster larvae exports to stop smuggling.
Kobe Beef
Kobe beef is renowned worldwide. Selected according to strict standards, Kobe beef is characterized by fine marbling created by fat. Due to the strict export regulations, authentic Kobe beef is rare outside the country. This scarcity fuels a black market for this flavorful beef.
They might try to sneak actual Kobe beef out of the country or, more commonly, pass off lesser cuts of beef as the real thing to fetch inflated prices. In the early 2000s, the United States banned importing Kobe beef cattle due to concerns about mad cow disease. As NBC News reported, the US ban and the subsequent decade of fluctuating restrictions (lifting, reinstating, and lifting the ban) further complicated the Kobe beef trade.
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna, one of the world’s priciest fish, is sought after for its taste and tenderness. It is very popular in sushi and sashimi. Unfortunately, overfishing has led to strict regulations to protect it.
Despite quotas and bans in many countries, their high demand drives illegal fishing and smuggling, especially in Japan. A large bluefin can be sold for millions at auction, making it valuable and a target for smugglers. Operations like the 2018 bust in Spain, involving 79 arrests and millions in illicit profits, highlight the scale of the bluefin tuna smuggling trade.
Stockfish
Stockfish, a dried cod product, is highly prized in Nigeria but often smuggled into the country to evade high import duties. In 2022 alone, Nigeria imported around N3.2 billion worth of stockfish from Norway. Stockfish imported from Norway sells for $65 per kilogram.
The high demand and expensive nature of stockfish have led to significant smuggling activities, with smugglers operating through neighboring countries to avoid import duties. The Nigerian government has attempted to combat this by simplifying import processes and closing land borders, reducing illegal imports from 45% to about 3-5%. Unfortunately, they have been unable to eliminate the underground market for stockfish.
Foie Gras
Foie gras is made from the liver of specially fattened ducks or geese. This delicacy is known for its rich texture and luxurious taste. However, its production is highly controversial due to the force-feeding process, known as gavage, which raises significant animal welfare concerns. As a result, California and New York City have enacted bans on its production and sale.
These restrictions have given rise to an underground market for foie gras, which is smuggled into areas where it is banned. Despite the ethical debates and legal barriers, the demand for this gourmet treat remains high, making it one of the most smuggled foods in the world.
The Baby Eels
The dwindling population and soaring market value of endangered baby eels or glass eels have led to a surge in smuggling. They are prized for their taste and can fetch over $9,000 per kilogram in the black market.
The illegal trade in European eels is estimated to be worth up to £2.5 billion annually despite regulations. Smugglers use tactics like using shell companies, disguising eels, and transporting them in plastic bags to evade detection. In 2017, Spanish police uncovered a trafficking operation involving $2 million worth of angulas destined for China, highlighting the global scale of the issue.
Truffles
Truffles, especially the rare white variety from Italy, are among the world’s most expensive foods. Their scarcity and the difficulty of cultivating and harvesting them drive prices to astronomical levels, making them the ideal target for smugglers.
A single pound of white truffles can fetch thousands of dollars. Smugglers bypass export regulations to meet international demand. Hunters may illegally cross borders to harvest truffles, while smugglers employ creative methods like concealing them in other produce shipments or using trained animals to locate these underground delicacies.
Shark fin
Shark fin soup, a traditional delicacy in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, has led to the gruesome and controversial practice of finning. It involves cutting off a shark’s fins and throwing it back into the sea. This horrific act and its devastating effect on their population has led several countries to ban it.
Despite these bans, the demand for shark fin remains high, which has led to a thriving black market. Shark fins are smuggled into countries with stricter regulations, fetching high prices due to cultural significance and perceived scarcity. Recent criminal cases in the US involving mislabeling and illegal exports highlight the industry’s role in this trade, even as Congress considers a federal ban on shark fin imports and exports.
Raw Milk Cheese
Since 1949, the US has banned the sale of raw milk cheese unless aged for at least 60 days to protect consumers from harmful pathogens. Despite this, raw milk cheeses are celebrated for their unique flavor and texture. Enthusiasts argue that cheeses like French Roquefort and Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano offer a richness that pasteurized versions can’t replicate.
The restrictions have sparked an underground trade in raw milk cheeses, which are smuggled into nations with strict dairy laws. Among connoisseurs, fetch premium prices. In 2014, the FDA halted the import of several French cheeses, including Roquefort, St. Nectaire, Morbier, and Tomme de Savoie, highlighting the ongoing tension between safety regulations and culinary passion.
Golden Kiwis
The golden kiwis, created by grafting and cross-pollinating different types of kiwi, are a popular choice for food smugglers. New Zealand’s Zespri cooperative tightly controls the growth of its prized SunGold kiwi, leading to limited supply and high prices.
This has incentivized illegal activity, with smugglers attempting to transport kiwi sprouts to unauthorized locations, like the large-scale operation uncovered in China in 2022. The unique characteristics of golden kiwis, such as their smooth, hairless skin and sweeter taste compared to the traditional green variety, further contribute to their desirability and the lengths people will go to obtain them.
Zespri has taken legal action to protect its brand and intellectual property rights, as the golden kiwi’s unique development through cross-breeding makes it a valuable and regulated fruit.
Maple Syrup
Due to its high value and limited supply, maple syrup from Canada is one of the most smuggled foods globally. With Quebec leading the way, Canada produces over 70% of the world’s maple syrup. The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers Federation heavily regulates the syrup to ensure quality and control the prices.
Pure maple syrup from Canada costs over $40 a bottle, which is much more expensive than other syrups. The high prices and strict quotas have created an underground market for this sweet commodity. In 2012, one of the largest heists in Canadian history saw $8.4 million of pure maple syrup stolen from a warehouse in Quebec, showing the lengths thieves will go to exploit this sought-after product.
