TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
DRUG CARTEL [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2024-11-25
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Criminology
- Drugs and Drug Addiction
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- drug cartel
1, record 1, English, drug%20cartel
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
... an illicit consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition and control the production and distribution of illegal drugs. 2, record 1, English, - drug%20cartel
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Drug cartels are composed of smaller, independent drug trafficking groups that have come together and pooled their resources to cooperate with each other and advance their drug operations. 3, record 1, English, - drug%20cartel
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Criminologie
- Drogues et toxicomanie
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- cartel de la drogue
1, record 1, French, cartel%20de%20la%20drogue
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
L'objectif de la collusion entre entreprises, qu'il s'agisse de cartels de la drogue ou de compagnies ordinaires, consiste à convertir un grand marché concurrentiel en une série de petits monopoles. 2, record 1, French, - cartel%20de%20la%20drogue
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Criminología
- Drogas y toxicomanía
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- cartel de la droga
1, record 1, Spanish, cartel%20de%20la%20droga
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- cártel de la droga 2, record 1, Spanish, c%C3%A1rtel%20de%20la%20droga
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Tenemos que tomar conciencia de que los carteles de la droga son verdaderas empresas multinacionales, que cuentan con profesionales de la mayor competencia en las diferentes áreas que involucra la producción y tráfico de estas sustancias, es así como las bandas de narcotraficantes cuentan con ingenieros químicos, economistas, expertos bancarios [...] 3, record 1, Spanish, - cartel%20de%20la%20droga
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
El Estado ha desarrollado también sus fortalezas: de una parte se adelantó un profundo proceso de depuración en la Policía Nacional, que le permitió enfrentar una lucha efectiva contra los carteles de la droga, hasta desarticularlos y poner a sus cúpulas tras la rejas. 4, record 1, Spanish, - cartel%20de%20la%20droga
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
cartel; cártel: La Fundación del Español Urgente (Fundéu BBVA), con el asesoramiento de la Real Academia Española, indica que tanto "cartel" como "cártel" son grafías adecuadas para referirse a una "organización ilícita vinculada al tráfico de drogas o de armas", conforme al Diccionario académico. 5, record 1, Spanish, - cartel%20de%20la%20droga
Record 2 - internal organization data 2015-02-02
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Criminology
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- crime cartel
1, record 2, English, crime%20cartel
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- criminal cartel 2, record 2, English, criminal%20cartel
correct
- organized crime cartel 3, record 2, English, organized%20crime%20cartel
correct
- organized criminal cartel 4, record 2, English, organized%20criminal%20cartel
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
For the past three years the powerful crime cartel trucked heroin from the poppy fields of the Golden Triangle into China's notorious Fujian Province and shipped the drug west to be sold on the streets of Vancouver, Toronto, New York and other North American cities. 5, record 2, English, - crime%20cartel
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
... regardless of how criminal cartels are ultimately defined by statute, clients should consider undertaking a full cartel audit of their businesses before the draft bill becomes law ... 6, record 2, English, - crime%20cartel
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Criminologie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- cartel criminel
1, record 2, French, cartel%20criminel
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- cartel du crime 2, record 2, French, cartel%20du%20crime
correct, masculine noun
- cartel du crime organisé 3, record 2, French, cartel%20du%20crime%20organis%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le troisième mode d'organisation auquel fait appel le cartel criminel est la parenté clanique, la structure ethnique. 4, record 2, French, - cartel%20criminel
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Criminología
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- cartel
1, record 2, Spanish, cartel
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
- cártel 1, record 2, Spanish, c%C3%A1rtel
correct, masculine noun
- cartel de la delincuencia organizada 2, record 2, Spanish, cartel%20de%20la%20delincuencia%20organizada
masculine noun
- cártel de la delincuencia organizada 3, record 2, Spanish, c%C3%A1rtel%20de%20la%20delincuencia%20organizada
masculine noun
- cartel del crimen organizado 4, record 2, Spanish, cartel%20del%20crimen%20organizado
masculine noun
- cártel del crimen organizado 5, record 2, Spanish, c%C3%A1rtel%20del%20crimen%20organizado
masculine noun
- cartel criminal 6, record 2, Spanish, cartel%20criminal
avoid, see observation, masculine noun
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Organización ilícita vinculada al tráfico de drogas o de armas. 7, record 2, Spanish, - cartel
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
cartel criminal: Al contener la palabra cartel el significado de "organización ilícita", la construcción "cartel criminal" parece redundante. 3, record 2, Spanish, - cartel
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
cartel; cártel: La Fundación del Español Urgente (Fundéu BBVA), con el asesoramiento de la Real Academia Española, indica que tanto "cartel" como "cártel" son grafías adecuadas para referirse a una "organización ilícita vinculada al tráfico de drogas o de armas", conforme al Diccionario académico. 8, record 2, Spanish, - cartel
Record 3 - internal organization data 2007-11-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Drugs and Drug Addiction
- Offences and crimes
- Criminology
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- drug trafficker
1, record 3, English, drug%20trafficker
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- narcotrafficker 2, record 3, English, narcotrafficker
correct
- drug dealer 3, record 3, English, drug%20dealer
correct
- dope dealer 4, record 3, English, dope%20dealer
correct, familiar
- dealer 5, record 3, English, dealer
correct
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A person who deals in illegal drugs. 5, record 3, English, - drug%20trafficker
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Adapting to stepped-up pressure from law enforcement, a new breed of Colombian drug trafficker has abandoned the model of the huge narcotics cartel and is shunning the high-profile lifestyle. Out are bodyguards and armor-plated Toyota Landcruisers. In are taxis and conservative business suits. 6, record 3, English, - drug%20trafficker
Record 3, Key term(s)
- drug-trafficker
- dope-dealer
- narco-trafficker
- dope-trader
- dope trader
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Drogues et toxicomanie
- Infractions et crimes
- Criminologie
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- narcotrafiquant
1, record 3, French, narcotrafiquant
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- narcotraficant 2, record 3, French, narcotraficant
correct, see observation, masculine noun
- trafiquant de drogue 3, record 3, French, trafiquant%20de%20drogue
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Personne qui trafique des drogues, des produits illicites ou dopants. 4, record 3, French, - narcotrafiquant
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Parce que la réussite de certains narcotrafiquants est érigée en modèle, leurs comportements - recours systématique à la violence, consommation ostentatoire, mépris des lois, etc. - sont imités et cela contribue au délitement des normes sociales. 5, record 3, French, - narcotrafiquant
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Les autorités mexicaines ont annoncé hier avoir arrêté à Mexico le narcotraficant Ricardo García Urquiza, alias le «Docteur», lors d'une opération policière menée voilà 10 jours. 6, record 3, French, - narcotrafiquant
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
narcotrafiquant; narcotraficant; trafiquant de drogue : Ces termes s'appliquent notamment aux barons des cartels. 4, record 3, French, - narcotrafiquant
Record 3, Key term(s)
- narco-trafiquant
- narco
- traficant de drogues
- trafiquant de drogues
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Drogas y toxicomanía
- Infracciones y crímenes
- Criminología
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- narcotraficante
1, record 3, Spanish, narcotraficante
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
- narco 2, record 3, Spanish, narco
correct, masculine noun
- traficante de droga 3, record 3, Spanish, traficante%20de%20droga
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3, Key term(s)
- traficante de drogas
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: