<p>The Amazon has a long history of wildlife exploitation, which continues to this day through the illegal wildlife trade (IWT). Although research conducted in the region provides relevant information at the local level, gaps remain in broader regional views of IWT patterns and trends. We conducted a systematic literature review to characterize IWT in the Brazilian Amazon, identifying trade routes and assessing the factors that drive this activity. Following the PRISMA-Eco-Evo protocol, we evaluated 34 scientific articles. We recorded the illegal trade of 137 species, representing all vertebrate groups, of which 25.5% are included in threatened categories of the ICMBio/MMA (2018). We identified seven purposes for wildlife use, with human consumption being the most prominent. Most articles (88%) documented trade occurring in publicly accessible locations, such as fairs and markets. Trade routes encompassed both national and international scales. We identified cultural, biological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors as drivers of IWT. Despite being illegal, IWT remains widespread in the Amazon, likely due to high demand and weak enforcement. The identified geographic and thematic gaps highlight the need to expand the scope of research, particularly in remote and border areas. Furthermore, the observed drivers are similar to those reported in other regions of Brazil and worldwide, indicating a convergence of socioenvironmental motivations and vulnerabilities associated with the trade. Our study highlights the need to strengthen education and awareness strategies to reduce the demand for wildlife, in addition to enhancing enforcement and efforts to combat IWT in the Amazon.</p>