The global coral trafficking trade is thriving, exacerbating the already dire state of the world's reefs. According to data from the wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC, there have been more than 1,300 documented cases of live coral smuggling since 2000, involving at least 43 countries. The United States is by far the largest importer, with shipments often intentionally mislabeled as toys, clothes, or food to bypass customs. The cases include 3.15 million pieces of coral, with a market value of at least $9.4 million. A prominent example is the case of Glenn Albert Binoya, founder of the Philippine-based online shop ArtReef Rocks, who was arrested in 2018 for illegally exporting thousands of corals to the U.S. He died in 2023 while the case was ongoing.