narco-terrorism
noun
nar·co-ter·ror·ism
ˈnär-(ˌ)kō-ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm 
: terrorism financed by profits from illegal drug trafficking
Narco-terrorism should become a major issue in bilateral discussions in the international community …—
Rachel Ehrenfeld
Rachel EhrenfeldExamples of narco-terrorism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Carvajal was charged with participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy, carrying a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Coronel, as well as his father, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering as leaders from a faction of a now-defunct cartel known as the Beltran Leyva Organization, a violent faction of the Sinaloa cartel.
—CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
The strike group's deployment comes as the Trump administration continues to increase the pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was charged by U.S. prosecutors in 2020 with narco-terrorism and other crimes.
—NPR, 16 Nov. 2025
The operation is part of a broader White House directive targeting narco-terrorism and transnational criminal organizations.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In 2020, Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and other charges.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Maduro, indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges, has clung to power with military backing and allegedly with support from Russia, China and Cuba.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Coronel, as well as his father, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering as leaders from a faction of a now-defunct cartel known as the Beltran Leyva Organization, a violent faction of the Sinaloa cartel.
—CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
The strike group's deployment comes as the Trump administration continues to increase the pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was charged by U.S. prosecutors in 2020 with narco-terrorism and other crimes.
—NPR, 16 Nov. 2025
The operation is part of a broader White House directive targeting narco-terrorism and transnational criminal organizations.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In 2020, Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and other charges.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Maduro, indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges, has clung to power with military backing and allegedly with support from Russia, China and Cuba.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Narco-terrorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narco-terrorism. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share