Editing Illegal drug trade (section)

{{Mature}}[[File:Drugroutemap.gif|thumb|A map showing the global drug smuggling routes around the world.]]
[[File:4 ounces of cannabis.JPG|thumb|300px|right|4 ounces of cannabis seized by police during a raid on a cannabis laboratory |link=Special:FilePath/4_ounces_of_cannabis.JPG]]
The '''illegal drug trade''' is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of drugs, which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws while there is also a trade in avoiding paying tax on what are legal drugs, such as tobacco. A UN report said "the global drug trade generated an estimated US$321.6 billion in 2003." With a world GDP of US$36 trillion in the same year, the illegal drug trade may be estimated as slightly less than 1% (0.893%) of total global output. Consumption of [[Illegal Drugs|illegal drugs]] is widespread globally.

[[Organized crime]] syndicates and terrorist organizations often participate in the illegal drug trade as a way of funding their illicit activities.