Contraband is a term used to describe goods or items that are illegal or prohibited by law. These could include drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, endangered species or items that violate intellectual property laws.
Smuggling refers to the act of transporting contraband across international borders or through checkpoints illegally. It involves concealing the goods and avoiding detection by law enforcement or customs officials.
Customs fraud involves misrepresenting information on goods being imported or exported from one country to another. This can include falsely declaring the value of goods, failing to pay customs taxes, or mislabeling items in order to evade detection.
Contraband items are often sold on the black market, which refers to an underground economy where goods and services are exchanged outside of legal channels. The black market trade in contraband items is often associated with organized crime.
Money laundering is the process of making illegal money (such as proceeds from selling contraband) appear legitimate through a series of financial transactions. The goal is to conceal the source and nature of the money so it can be used without detection by law enforcement.
Organized crime groups are often involved in smuggling and selling contraband items because it is a profitable business. They may use violence, intimidation, and corruption to maintain control over their operations.
The trade in contraband can have negative impacts on society such as increased crime rates, loss of tax revenue for governments, damage to public health due to counterfeit drugs or toxic substances, and harm to wildlife populations due to poaching.