Ep 7. The Black Market

In Underworld, Inc. Season 2 Episode 7, titled ‘The Black Market,’ the focus is on the illegal trade of rare and exotic animals. The episode showcases how this black market industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, attracting criminal networks from all over the world.

The episode begins with a glimpse into the international animal trade. From Africa to Asia, rare and exotic animals are being hunted, captured, and smuggled across borders for private ownership or to be sold in the animal black market. One of the first places we visit is a market in Vietnam, where a variety of endangered species, from tigers and elephants to pangolins, are sold openly. The sheer size of the market reveals the magnitude of this illegal trade and how deeply entrenched it is in the local culture.

The episode then delves deeper into the lucrative trade of wildlife collectors, who are willing to pay millions for a rare animal. In the United States, an underground community of exotic animal collectors has emerged, who are willing to risk a lot to acquire their desired assets. We meet one such collector, who has spent over $350,000 amassed a collection of over a hundred animals, including snakes, lizards, and turtles. Anti-poaching organizations, such as the Big Life Foundation in Kenya, explain how wealthy collectors are fueling the black market trade of exotic animals, which often involves endangering the lives of animals and people involved in the industry.

The episode then explores different factors that make animal smuggling possible. The most significant factor being government corruption. In the United States, weak wildlife protection laws hinder law enforcement efforts to protect species from being trafficked in and out of the country. Additionally, smuggling networks circumvent regulations by exploiting loopholes in international law and bribing officials.

Next, the episode unravels how criminals use sophisticated methods to smuggle exotic animals across borders. Common methods include hiding animals in suitcases, disguising them in shipments of legitimate goods or putting them inappropriately labeled containers. The documentary exposes how wildlife smugglers even go to the extent of drugging animals to keep them sedated and dormant during long journeys - making them much easier to transport.

Finally, the episode highlights how technology has played a role in animal smuggling’s growth. The deep web provides an anonymous forum for smugglers to connect with buyers and develop their trade. Likewise, social media platforms have made it easier to advertise and sell exotic animals, enabling the growth of a ‘Facebook for animal traffickers’.

Overall, Underworld, Inc. Season 2 Episode 7 does an excellent job highlighting how the illegal wildlife trade has grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise that threatens animal species’ survival around the world. It also illustrates how the animal trade relies on a combination of factors such as government corruption, weak wildlife protection laws, and newfound ICT tools. This compelling episode provides a humbling reminder that it is our collective responsibility to protect the planet and its species for generations to come.