blackmarket
Illegal trade network
Black market refers to illegal trade in goods or services—either items banned outright or legitimate goods sold in violation of regulations.
The term evokes shadowy transactions outside official channels: black market organs, black market weapons.
As a verb, to black-market is to deal in such goods.
Also spelled as two words or hyphenated.
Illegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
- launderingCleaning fabric items
counterfeiting · racketeering · bribery · extortion · fraud · embezzlement · corruption · scamming
Prohibited trade goods
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- piratedCopied without authorization
- stolenTaken unlawfully
knockoff · fake · forgery · replica · narcotics · fenced · hot · unauthorized
Illegal goods transporter
- traffickerIllegal goods dealer
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
- courierDelivery person or service
runner · kingpin · cartel · syndicate · dealer · bootlegger · coyote · middleman
Illicit liquor establishment
- stashHidden reserve
- hideoutSecret place of refuge
- safehouseSecure secret shelter
- frontForward-facing side
drop · tunnel · backdoor · dead-drop · warehouse · backroom · burner · underground
Unrecorded for tax purposes
- unreportedNot officially documented
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- informalRelaxed, not official
unregulated · hidden · unofficial · non-compliant · undeclared · laundered · markup · premium
trafficking
Illegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
laundering · counterfeiting · racketeering · bribery · extortion · fraud · embezzlement · corruption · scamming · piracy
contraband
Prohibited trade goods
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- piratedCopied without authorization
stolen · knockoff · fake · forgery · replica · narcotics · fenced · hot · unauthorized · prohibited
smuggler
Illegal goods transporter
- traffickerIllegal goods dealer
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
courier · runner · kingpin · cartel · syndicate · dealer · bootlegger · coyote · middleman · supplier
speakeasy
Illicit liquor establishment
front · drop · tunnel · backdoor · dead-drop · warehouse · backroom · burner · underground · network
off-the-books
Unrecorded for tax purposes
- unreportedNot officially documented
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
informal · unregulated · hidden · unofficial · non-compliant · undeclared · laundered · markup · premium
blackmarketopen market
Unrestricted trading environment
free market · authorized dealer · stock exchange · commodity exchange