By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos courtesy of Pixabay
Beneath the surface of the global food supply, a toxic underworld thrives. Illicit pesticides – banned, counterfeit and smuggled – are more than a threat to crops and health, they are big business for organised crime groups. Hidden labs churn out deadly chemicals, black markets move them across borders and farmers and consumers bear the cost. This story extends beyond agriculture; it is one of greed, lawlessness and the dangerous profits lurking behind every poisoned field.
The global pesticide market, valued at nearly €53 billion in 2020, has been rapidly expanding, with EU companies controlling a third of the sector (Foote, 2025). As demand for food rises, farmers are pressured to protect crops and boost yields, but criminals are turning this need into profit, selling products that are often toxic, ineffective or outright fake (Tracit, 2024).
Illegal pesticides are spreading across the globe, putting farmers, crops and entire ecosystems at risk. Organised crime networks exploit loopholes in international trade and weak enforcement to sell cheap, unregulated chemicals, often with deadly ingredients. The International Pesticide Standard Alliance (IPSA), a worldwide body pushing for stronger regulation, warns that illicit pesticides can contain prohibited chemicals or none at all, endangering farmers, poisoning land and threatening food security (Foote, 2025).
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: December 2025. This article is available for purchase.]