cartel
/kɑrˈtɛl/
noun
- A group of independent businesses or countries that agree to control prices, production, or markets for a product, often illegally.
- The oil cartel agreed to reduce production to keep prices high.
- The government broke up the cartel for violating antitrust laws.
- Several companies formed a cartel to fix the price of electronics.
- A criminal organization, especially one involved in drug trafficking.
- The cartel's violent activities terrorized the region for years.
- Police arrested the leaders of a powerful cartel operating in the city.
- The drug cartel controlled smuggling routes across the border.