Synonyms of smugglers

smugglers

noun

plural of smuggler

as in runners

a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally

during Prohibition, smugglers of alcohol did a brisk business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• runners
• couriers
• bootleggers
• mules
• coyotes
• contrabandists
• gunrunners

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smugglers

Sanchez said that the ruling had been intentionally misconstrued by migrant smugglers to convince thousands of people to cross by swimming around the border fence. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Sánchez said that the ruling had been intentionally misconstrued by migrant smugglers to persuade thousands of people to swim around the border fence. — Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Spanish officials said smugglers may have exploited the court ruling. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 31 July 2026

After helping rescue a small group of ploughshares confiscated from smugglers, Goode and the Turtle Conservancy became the first to successfully breed the species outside of Madagascar. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026

Advertisement Prosecutors alleged that crew members had collaborated with smugglers during three rescue operations conducted between 2016 and 2017. — Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 17 July 2026

As if to prove the point, street prices for cocaine in the United States have plummeted, the opposite of what would be expected if smugglers were being deterred. — Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

In other instances, Warrick said, there will be ghost carriers or fraudulent pickups of drivers or middlemen posing as legitimate transporters, but who are really smugglers. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen clashes between security forces, insurgents and drug smugglers. — Alex Sundby, CBS News, 30 June 2026