An illicit trade in human hair has led to job losses and threatens a south Asian country's dominance in the global hair industry.
A recent investigation into an alleged hair smuggling operation is being blamed for thousands of job losses in India.With China standing as its largest market, industry insiders have noticed a worrying shift in how the product is procured and exported.
This alleged racket then transports the product from India to countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh before ultimately reaching China.Local media reports estimate the value of this smuggling racket to be as high as $1.5 billion. “Now, increasingly, the Chinese are hiring local agents who buy the hair directly from Indian traders at a quarter of the price,” Sunil Eamani, a member of the Human Hair and Hair Products Manufacturers and Exporters Association of India, told“This has changed the trade dynamics and encouraged smuggling, as unscrupulous players seek to secure supplies at rock-bottom prices and get around taxes.”
According to Eamani, this hair is increasingly being diverted to smugglers en route to markets in China, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.