trafficker
Black market trader
A trafficker is someone who trades in illegal goods or people.
The term appears most often with drugs (drug trafficker) or humans (human trafficker), where it carries strong criminal connotations.
Unlike smuggler, which emphasizes moving contraband across borders, trafficker focuses on the trading itself—buying, selling, and distributing.
Prohibited trade goods
- borderOuter edge or limit
- coyoteWild North American canid
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
clandestine · evasion · stash · interdiction · checkpoint · customs · concealment · routes
Price-fixing coalition
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
- underworldRealm of the departed
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
racketeer · mafia · gangster · ringleader · fugitive · mobster · boss · enforcer
One who sells goods
- narcoticsDrugs inducing sleep, numbness
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
methamphetamine · distribution · possession · peddler · supplier · connect · cook · stash
Exchange of goods, services
- goodsThings for sale
- supplyFurnish or stock
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
- shipmentGoods being transported
export · import · distribution · logistics · wholesale · transaction · vendor · supplier
Selfish use of others
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- slaveryOwnership of people
- prostitutionCommercial sexual services
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
coercion · migration · deportation · asylum · documents · smuggler · broker · brothel
contraband
Prohibited trade goods
underground · clandestine · evasion · stash · interdiction · checkpoint · customs · concealment · routes · tunnels
cartel
Price-fixing coalition
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
- underworldRealm of the departed
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
syndicate · racketeer · mafia · gangster · ringleader · fugitive · mobster · boss · enforcer · hitman
dealer
One who sells goods
- narcoticsDrugs inducing sleep, numbness
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
fentanyl · methamphetamine · distribution · possession · peddler · supplier · connect · cook · stash · bagman
commerce
Exchange of goods, services
- goodsThings for sale
- supplyFurnish or stock
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
shipment · export · import · distribution · logistics · wholesale · transaction · vendor · supplier · consignment
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- slaveryOwnership of people
- prostitutionCommercial sexual services
recruitment · coercion · migration · deportation · asylum · documents · smuggler · broker · brothel · sweatshop
- Crookscrook, swindler, fraudster, embezzler, con artist
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- lawbreakersthief, robber, burglar, vandal, smuggler
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- accomplicesaccomplice, accessory, co-conspirator, abettor, collaborator
- black marketblack market, illegal trade, smugglers, contraband, bootleggers
traffickerrescuer
One who saves others
liberator · abolitionist · human rights defender · victim advocate · border patrol agent
- cocaine traffickingIllegal distribution of stimulant powder
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
- human trafficking survivorPerson freed from forced servitude
- human traffickingCriminal trade in people
- drug traffickerOne who smuggles narcotics
- sex traffickingForced commercial sexual exploitation