gunrunning
Illegal weapons trade
Gunrunning is the illegal smuggling of firearms, typically across borders or into conflict zones.
The term emphasizes the clandestine, often dangerous nature of the trade: He was arrested for gunrunning to rebel militias.
A person engaged in this activity is a gunrunner.
Illicit trade in weapons
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- illicitProhibited by law
- smugglerIllegal goods transporter
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
underground · arms dealer · illegal arms · border crossing · concealment · interdiction · seizure · straw purchase
Armed uprising against authority
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
mercenaries · warlord · paramilitary · civil war · proxy war · armed conflict · coup · uprising
Structured illegal enterprise
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
racketeering · criminal enterprise · underworld · gangland · ringleader · money laundering · corruption · bribery
Weapons using explosive propulsion
- small armsHandheld military weapons
- assault riflesSelective-fire infantry firearms
- automatic weaponsSelf-cycling firearms
- handgunsSmall portable firearms
ammunition · explosives · grenades · RPGs · AK-47 · stockpile · arsenal · armaments
One who sells goods
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- supplierSource of goods
- buyerOne who acquires things
end user · front company · shell corporation · offshore accounts · logistics · distribution · contacts · connections
arms trafficking
Illicit trade in weapons
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- illicitProhibited by law
- smugglerIllegal goods transporter
clandestine · underground · arms dealer · illegal arms · border crossing · concealment · interdiction · seizure · straw purchase · diversion
insurgency
Armed uprising against authority
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- militiaNon-professional armed force
combatants · mercenaries · warlord · paramilitary · civil war · proxy war · armed conflict · coup · uprising · resistance
organized crime
Structured illegal enterprise
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
kingpin · racketeering · criminal enterprise · underworld · gangland · ringleader · money laundering · corruption · bribery · felony
firearms
Weapons using explosive propulsion
- small armsHandheld military weapons
- assault riflesSelective-fire infantry firearms
- automatic weaponsSelf-cycling firearms
handguns · ammunition · explosives · grenades · RPGs · AK-47 · stockpile · arsenal · armaments · ordnance
dealer
One who sells goods
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- supplierSource of goods
buyer · end user · front company · shell corporation · offshore accounts · logistics · distribution · contacts · connections · client
- smugglingcontraband, smugglers, human smuggling, smuggling rings, people smuggling
- maritime crimespiracy, ship hijacking, mutiny, pirate attack, hijacking
- narcotraffickingdrug trafficking, drug cartels, drug lord, drug lords, narcos
gunrunningdisarmament
Reducing or eliminating weapons
arms control · demilitarization · gun control · nonproliferation · gun buyback