smuggling
Illegal border crossing
Smuggling is the act of moving goods or people illegally across borders or past checkpoints, typically to avoid taxes, duties, or prohibitions.
The term covers everything from drug trafficking to helping refugees cross borders: a smuggling operation, arrested for smuggling contraband.
Smuggling can also mean bringing something in secretly on a smaller scale: She was caught smuggling snacks into the theater.
Drugs inducing sleep, numbness
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- opiumNarcotic from scored seedpods
- ivoryTusk-derived material
wildlife · artifacts · counterfeit · moonshine · rum-running · tobacco · pharmaceuticals · weapons
Illicit trading system
- illicitProhibited by law
- underground economyUnreported commercial activity
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
profitable · lucrative · tax fraud · sanctions busting · price gouging · kickbacks · payoffs
Price-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- triadGroup of three
- yakuzaJapanese criminal organization
kingpin · capo · godfather · don · fixer · racketeering · organized crime · runner
Secret, undetected movement
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- furtiveSecretive and sly
surreptitious · cloak-and-dagger · disguise · camouflage · shadowy · undetected · subterfuge · evasion
Act of hiding something
- stashHidden reserve
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- courierDelivery person or service
- dead dropSecret exchange location
hidden cargo · decoy · bribery · forgery · shell company · front business · speedboat · submarine
Outer edge or limit
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
- transitMovement between places
- checkpointInspection station on route
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
port · coastline · waterway · airstrip · overland · maritime · desert crossing · international waters
narcotics
Drugs inducing sleep, numbness
ivory · wildlife · artifacts · counterfeit · moonshine · rum-running · tobacco · pharmaceuticals · weapons · diamonds
black market
Illicit trading system
- illicitProhibited by law
- underground economyUnreported commercial activity
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
dirty money · profitable · lucrative · tax fraud · sanctions busting · price gouging · kickbacks · payoffs
cartel
Price-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- triadGroup of three
yakuza · kingpin · capo · godfather · don · fixer · racketeering · organized crime · runner · operative
stealth
Secret, undetected movement
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
furtive · surreptitious · cloak-and-dagger · disguise · camouflage · shadowy · undetected · subterfuge · evasion · incognito
concealment
Act of hiding something
dead drop · hidden cargo · decoy · bribery · forgery · shell company · front business · speedboat · submarine · drone
border
Outer edge or limit
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
- transitMovement between places
- checkpointInspection station on route
customs · port · coastline · waterway · airstrip · overland · maritime · desert crossing · international waters · free trade zone
- global crimeterrorism, money laundering, organized crime, cybercrime, drug cartels
- historical crimestreason, heresy, blasphemy, witchcraft, piracy
- Poachingpoacher, poaching, ivory, tusks, snare
- Traffickingtrafficker, drug cartel, cartels, cartel, drug lords
- underground economyblack market, shadow economy, cash in hand, off the books, under the table
- maritimeships, ship, boat, boats, anchors
- arms smugglingIllegal weapons trafficking
- drug smugglingIllegal transport of narcotics
- smuggling ringsCriminal networks transporting contraband
- human smugglingIllegal transport of persons
- people smugglingIllegally transporting persons across borders
- smuggling routePath for moving contraband
smug, mule, smuggle, smuggler, smugness, trafficking, smuggled, smugglers, bootlegging