Illicit: The Dark Trade
Introduction
Illicit: The Dark Trade is a documentary about the growth of illicit trade throughout the world. The movie highlights how trafficking in men, dirty and counterfeit money, drugs and money laundering is changing the world. Also, how illicit trade is able to undermine government’s authority, killing or injuring people, overcome regulatory barriers through a corrupt system of bribes. Illicit trade has become monstrosity globally that is considered a transnational problem. Since no country can tackle the issue alone, illicit trade keeps growing as they become a source of employment for the locals and revenue (tax and bribes) foe the government. After watching the movie, I have learned that the underground economy is vast and growing due because there the demand for counterfeit products, drugs, labor, etc. and governments are restricted to their national borders or sometimes bribed to look away (Fitzwilliam).
Personal Experience
Watching the movie made realize that the illicit trade is actively being practiced in markets all around my city. It has come to a point that the illicit trade network has grown so strong globally that that can buy politicians and power. For example in China and Hong Kong, counterfeiters create jobs, taxes, create revenue and pay bribes to local officials. Bankers have also contributed to the growth of illicit trade as they are willing to launder their money only for the sake of getting their higher commission. With the advent of electronic banking, money laundering has become significantly easy and dirty money is transferred from one corner of the world to another. Investing in real estate projects is another means used by many to launder their dirty money and wash their money (Fitzwilliam).
The movie also informed that illicit grows because it is safer and much more profitable that criminal activities such dealing drugs and weapons. The source of the current illicit trade was the technological and political revolution of the 1990s as borders broke down between nations and countries opened their market for trade. It became easier for a drug dealer to sell cocaine from Columbia and heroin from Afghanistan to his customers based in New York. The movie also mentions how illicit trade has managed to enter different industries and products such as pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, car parts, watches, shoes, handbags, etc. Their presence has increased to such a level that in 2008, around 10 percent of the global trade is illicit in nature and the number is expected to grow in the future (Fitzwilliam).
The movie mentions that the essence of illicit trade’s growth is demand for the products, but there are causes too, as people are dependent on illicit trade for their livelihood. In China, 25 million people are working for companies that are participants in illicit trade and people are smuggled from poor African countries such as Senegal to Europe for working as foot soldiers of illicit trade operation. For many workers living away from home, illicit trade is the only means of their income and the only option for them to feed their family. The bigger problem with this issue is that many human traffickers charge these poor labors significant amounts that leave them in huge debts. Most of the poor labors are unemployed and need work; illicit trade provides them with money and a possibility to build their future (Fitzwilliam).
The movie has taught me about the evil presence of illicit trade in our world and how we as people need to curtail the demand for products that leads to crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, illegal and ineffective drugs and counterfeit money. As a human being it is my moral duty to ensure that I avoid any purchases of fake products just to save some bucks. Even though millions of people are dependent on illicit trade for their livelihood, it is obvious to say that the ethical option is to ensure somehow governments work together to eliminate the source. It is also important that global governments need to work hand-in-hand and ensure illicit trade is eradicated.
This movie has strengthened my knowledge about illicit trade and helps me in understanding how it affects millions of people worldwide. After watching the movie I would like to ensure that I would ensure that I never buy a fake product that hinders the lives of many people throughout the world and creates a criminal world of its own. The only weakness that I can identify is that I cannot other control people even my family for making fake product purchases. Human beings are attracted to branded products and when they get the opportunity to purchase them are at cheap rates, they consider it a win-win. Just like governments need to work together for eradicating the illicit trade, people also need to join hands and ensure fake products are avoided at all cost.
Conclusion
Illicit trade has become an important part of the global trade due to its increasing demand, government’s toleration of it and globalization of trade. The movie has been an eye opening experience for me and would surely play a role in my future purchases as I have sworn to stay far from fake products. These experiences will surely impact my life and I believe that the only for ending this cycle of evil is through curtailing the demand of these fake products and governments working with each other to eliminate source of operation.
Work Cited
Fitzwilliam., H. Illicit: The Dark Trade. Dir. Nat Geo. 2008. National Geographic, 2008. Film.
