Sand smuggling in Southeast Asia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sand smuggling is the cross-border environmental crime[1] of illegal transportation of often illegally extracted natural sand and gravel.[2] While sand smuggling and illegal mining are global concerns, they are especially acute in Asia, where continuing urbanization and the region’s large construction boom are driving the increasing demand for sand.[3] The consequences of excessive sand mining and smuggling, which are strongly connected, range from environmental degradation to geopolitical tension.[4]
Illegal sand smuggling and extraction, despite the importance of the resource, remain under-researched and for the most part hidden threats because they often occur in isolated places.[5] The issue is rarely addressed in scientific research and policy forums. Instead, it is the media and non-governmental organizations that are at the forefront of exposing environmental crimes and actions of corruption in the sand industry.[6]