trafficking

[traf-i-king]

noun

1. the practice of dealing or trading in a commodity or service, often an illegal one.

   drug trafficking.

2. human trafficking.

3. sex trafficking.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trafficking¹

First recorded in 1530–40; traffic ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Rakia Group, a small company headquartered in Dubai, recently set up a U.S. subsidiary to pitch its AI tools to U.S. government agencies for countering drug trafficking, terrorism and illegal immigration.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On Wednesday, the president of the Dominican Republic said he authorized the U.S. to refuel aircraft and transport equipment and personnel at restricted areas within the country to help fight drug trafficking.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It has insisted that the deployment – the largest by the US in the region since it invaded Panama in 1989 – is to combat drug trafficking.

Read more on BBC

The US says the aim of the deployment, the largest by the US in the region since it invaded Panama in 1989, is to combat drug trafficking.

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Kerr, who has called eel trafficking the "greatest wildlife crime" on the planet, said the vote was a "real pity," but there were some silver linings.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• piracy 
• smuggling www.thesaurus.com