as in poaching
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as in selling
to move (people or goods) from one country to another secretly and illegally
They were arrested for smuggling drugs across the border.
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Recent Examples of smuggling
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Tankers involved in smuggling often turn off their transponders or broadcast inaccurate data to hide their locations.
—Konstantin Toropin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The cartel, made up of military officers and senior Maduro administration officials, controlled most smuggling operations in Venezuela with the FARC in Colombia and Sinaloa and Zeta narcotics organizations in Mexico.
—Jay Weaver
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Created by Neeraj Pandey, the series centers on a specialized customs unit at Mumbai International Airport tasked with dismantling an international smuggling network.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Emraan Hashmi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu and Anurag Sinha all star in the series, which pits custom enforcement officers against a ruthless multi-national smuggling syndicate.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
As centralized authority weakens, those actors could exploit the vacuum, expanding control over territory and smuggling routes.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
In March, about two dozen MDC Brooklyn inmates and detainees were charged in 12 separate incidents of violent assault and contraband smuggling, the Justice Department said.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Officers at the time discussed their suspicions of smuggling, but Abrego Garcia was ultimately allowed to drive away with only a warning.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 6 Jan. 2026
Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2026
Operation Gatekeeper resulted in the arrests of two businessmen and a guilty plea from a Houston man and his company for smuggling the cutting-edge AI technology.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
The Coast Guard, sometimes with help from the Navy, had typically interdicted boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, searched for illicit cargo, and arrested the people aboard for prosecution.
—Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
According to sources familiar with the warrant, which remains under seal, a judge signed off on the warrant nearly two weeks ago because of the vessel's previous alleged role in smuggling Iranian oil.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2025
Venezuelan military bases could be among the potential targets, Cancian told , while going after the cartels would involve strikes on cartel leadership, production facilities, smuggling airfields and warehouses at ports.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Trump campaigned on prioritizing fighting transnational drug cartels, especially those smuggling deadly fentanyl into the United States, where the powerful synthetic opioid has killed more than 250,000 Americans since 2021.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
While the White House maintains the deployment is part of anti drug-smuggling operations, airlines have recently cancelled flights to Venezuela over fears of a potential US strike.
—semafor.com, 27 Nov. 2025
Noun
In December 2025, Rocha reportedly admitted to Mexico’s Attorney General's Office (FRG) that he was involved in smuggling fuel from Guatemala to Mexico.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Tankers involved in smuggling often turn off their transponders or broadcast inaccurate data to hide their locations.
—Konstantin Toropin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The cartel, made up of military officers and senior Maduro administration officials, controlled most smuggling operations in Venezuela with the FARC in Colombia and Sinaloa and Zeta narcotics organizations in Mexico.
—Jay Weaver
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Created by Neeraj Pandey, the series centers on a specialized customs unit at Mumbai International Airport tasked with dismantling an international smuggling network.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Emraan Hashmi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu and Anurag Sinha all star in the series, which pits custom enforcement officers against a ruthless multi-national smuggling syndicate.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
As centralized authority weakens, those actors could exploit the vacuum, expanding control over territory and smuggling routes.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
In March, about two dozen MDC Brooklyn inmates and detainees were charged in 12 separate incidents of violent assault and contraband smuggling, the Justice Department said.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Officers at the time discussed their suspicions of smuggling, but Abrego Garcia was ultimately allowed to drive away with only a warning.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Last March, 23 inmates were charged with offenses ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2026
Operation Gatekeeper resulted in the arrests of two businessmen and a guilty plea from a Houston man and his company for smuggling the cutting-edge AI technology.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
The Coast Guard, sometimes with help from the Navy, had typically interdicted boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, searched for illicit cargo, and arrested the people aboard for prosecution.
—Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
According to sources familiar with the warrant, which remains under seal, a judge signed off on the warrant nearly two weeks ago because of the vessel's previous alleged role in smuggling Iranian oil.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2025
Venezuelan military bases could be among the potential targets, Cancian told , while going after the cartels would involve strikes on cartel leadership, production facilities, smuggling airfields and warehouses at ports.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Trump campaigned on prioritizing fighting transnational drug cartels, especially those smuggling deadly fentanyl into the United States, where the powerful synthetic opioid has killed more than 250,000 Americans since 2021.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
While the White House maintains the deployment is part of anti drug-smuggling operations, airlines have recently cancelled flights to Venezuela over fears of a potential US strike.
—semafor.com, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggling
Noun
-
Neuralink recently lured a top official away from the Food and Drug Administration office that regulates the company, a poaching that has surprised, impressed, and infuriated its competitors in a fledgling industry developing brain-computer interfaces.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Two Yuba County men have been convicted in a Northern California poaching case that involved the unlawful pursuit and abuse of 13 wild animals — including eight black bears.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Discover for yourself why this Bedsure Heated Blanket pick is Amazon’s number one best-selling electric throw.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Over the years, Grains and Taps has expanded from selling local and worldwide beer selections to offering their own brews, opened a second location at Pine Tree Plaza and added a restaurant.—
Janice Phelan,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The list also includes agreements and groups on renewable energy, oceans, piracy, counterterrorism, and empowerment of women.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Porch piracy occurs all across California's Monterey County and has become more prevalent during the holiday season as people have more packages delivered to their front doors.—
James Herrera Monterey Daily Herald,
Arkansas Online,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In the indictment, the six defendants were accused of distributing cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Also this year, nearly 1,000 volunteers contributed more than 3,500 hours organizing, sorting, packing and distributing gifts at the Salvation Army Christmas Center.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Murder, kidnapping and probably counterfeiting are all still against the rules in college football.—
Mac Engel
January 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) said a possible kidnapping attempt in Weston on Monday morning was deemed to be unfounded following an investigation.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hernandez had been indicted in American courts on drug-trafficking and firearms charges and then extradited to the US.—
Chris Smith,
Vanity Fair,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Police arrested Andy Alcantara-Beltre, 33, of Dorchester and charged him with unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition, trafficking a Class A substance (over 100 grams), and possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance (crack cocaine).—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In parts of the country, violent attacks, kidnappings and banditry shadow daily life.—
Vanessa Offiong,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Now as then, insecurity at Nigerian schools in the north is occurring in the context of a broad rash of violence across the country, from farmer-herder conflicts in the east and central regions, armed banditry attacks in the northwest, and youth restiveness in the south.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From the anti-Trump side, meanwhile, the American people hear a nervous rustling of vague doubts.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
-
In the teaser, above, Joanna, 47, can be seen speaking on-camera discussing the plans for the construction of the home on the balcony before a rustling can be heard coming from the woods behind her.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggling. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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