drug cartel

/drəg kɑrˌtɛl/

/drəg kɑˈtel/

Other forms: drug cartels

Definitions of drug cartel

1. noun

   an illicit cartel formed to control the production and distribution of narcotic drugs
   examples:

   Medellin cartel

   a drug cartel in Colombia; controlled the production of cocaine from the 1970s until 1993 when the leader was killed

   Cali cartel

   a drug cartel that seized control of cocaine production in Colombia in 1993; adopted techniques used by terrorist organizations (small cells and sophisticated communications equipment and close ties with politicians etc.)

   type of:

   cartel, combine, corporate trust, trust

   a consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service