drug trafficking
Illegal substance distribution
Drug trafficking is the illegal trade of controlled substances—manufacturing, transporting, and selling drugs like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.
The term emphasizes the commercial scale of the operation, distinguishing it from simple possession or personal use.
Trafficking across international borders draws especially severe penalties.
He was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to twenty years.
Price-fixing coalition
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
- courierDelivery person or service
stash house · supply chain · shipment · concealment · transit · routes · networks · pipeline
Price-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
- bossWorkplace superior
lieutenant · gangster · organized crime · underworld · gang · crew · Sinaloa · Medellín
Illegal covert transport
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
- checkpointInspection station on route
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
go-fast boat · concealment · customs · port of entry · mule · vehicle modification · drone · desert
Authoritative prohibition or blockade
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- raidSudden armed incursion
- sting operationDeceptive arrest scheme
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
informant · DEA · prosecution · indictment · sentencing · extradition · surveillance · wiretap
Addictive stimulant narcotic
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
- methamphetamineAddictive synthetic stimulant drug
- opioidsReceptor-binding pain relievers
cannabis · MDMA · LSD · ketamine · morphine · amphetamine · crack · ecstasy
Deliberate unlawful killing
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- executionCompleting a planned task
beheading · intimidation · retaliation · turf war · shootout · armed · bodyguard · sicario
Cleaning fabric items
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
- cashReady spending funds
- wire transferElectronic bank-to-bank payment
- shell companyInactive firm for transactions
offshore accounts · front business · smurfing · placement · layering · integration · cryptocurrency · financial crimes
cartel
Price-fixing coalition
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
courier · stash house · supply chain · shipment · concealment · transit · routes · networks · pipeline · dead drop
cartel
Price-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
boss · lieutenant · gangster · organized crime · underworld · gang · crew · Sinaloa · Medellín · Cali
smuggling
Illegal covert transport
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
- checkpointInspection station on route
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
submarine · go-fast boat · concealment · customs · port of entry · mule · vehicle modification · drone · desert · maritime
interdiction
Authoritative prohibition or blockade
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- raidSudden armed incursion
- sting operationDeceptive arrest scheme
undercover · informant · DEA · prosecution · indictment · sentencing · extradition · surveillance · wiretap · asset forfeiture
cocaine
Addictive stimulant narcotic
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
- methamphetamineAddictive synthetic stimulant drug
opioids · cannabis · MDMA · LSD · ketamine · morphine · amphetamine · crack · ecstasy · opium
murder
Deliberate unlawful killing
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
execution · beheading · intimidation · retaliation · turf war · shootout · armed · bodyguard · sicario · massacre
laundering
Cleaning fabric items
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
- cashReady spending funds
- wire transferElectronic bank-to-bank payment
shell company · offshore accounts · front business · smurfing · placement · layering · integration · cryptocurrency · financial crimes · proceeds
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- Europol workcounterterrorism, organized crime, money laundering, fraud investigation
- federal crimesbank robbery, kidnapping, counterfeiting, tax fraud, wire fraud
- feloniesmurder, homicide, manslaughter, robbery, arson
- EU crime lawEuropol, Schengen, police cooperation, harmonization, criminal procedure
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
drug traffickingdrug enforcement
Policing illegal substances
drug interdiction · drug seizure · counter-narcotics · drug busts · customs enforcement
drug traffickingdrug rehabilitation
Treatment for substance addiction
addiction treatment · substance abuse counseling · harm reduction · public health initiatives · recovery services
drug, traffic, drugs, drugged, trafficking, trafficker, drugging, trafficked, traffickers