contraband
Illegally transported merchandise
Contraband is goods that are illegal to import, export, or possess—smuggled items that cross borders or prison walls in violation of law.
The word often appears in legal and military contexts: The border agents seized contraband worth millions.
Contraband can also function as an adjective: contraband weapons, contraband cigarettes.
Anything forbidden by regulation might be called contraband, even informally: The camp counselor confiscated contraband candy from the cabin.
Officially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- illegalForbidden by statute
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- illicitProhibited by law
outlawed · restricted · unauthorized · verboten · taboo · proscribed · interdicted · unsanctioned
Illegal transport for profit
- smugglerIllegal goods transporter
- courierDelivery person or service
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
- coyoteWild North American canid
rum-running · bootlegging · moonshine · stash · concealment · hideaway · camouflage · evasion
Seized by authority
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- raidSudden armed incursion
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- interdictionAuthoritative prohibition or blockade
enforcement · inspection · checkpoint · detained · surrendered · impounded · evidence · haul
Kept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- secretConcealed information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
covert · stealthy · undercover · disguised · undetected · furtive · secretive · incognito
Drugs inducing sleep, numbness
- drugsTherapeutic chemical compounds
- weaponsTools for fighting
- firearmsWeapons using explosive propulsion
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
pirated · stolen · ivory · antiquities · currency · alcohol · tobacco · explosives
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- triadGroup of three
- yakuzaJapanese criminal organization
fence · kingpin · racketeering · laundering · darknet · speakeasy · prohibition · racket
prohibited
Officially not permitted
illicit · outlawed · restricted · unauthorized · verboten · taboo · proscribed · interdicted · unsanctioned · forbidden
trafficking
Illegal transport for profit
coyote · rum-running · bootlegging · moonshine · stash · concealment · hideaway · camouflage · evasion · transport
confiscated
Seized by authority
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- raidSudden armed incursion
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
interdiction · enforcement · inspection · checkpoint · detained · surrendered · impounded · evidence · haul · bust
hidden
Kept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- secretConcealed information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
surreptitious · covert · stealthy · undercover · disguised · undetected · furtive · secretive · incognito · shadowy
narcotics
Drugs inducing sleep, numbness
- drugsTherapeutic chemical compounds
- weaponsTools for fighting
- firearmsWeapons using explosive propulsion
counterfeit · pirated · stolen · ivory · antiquities · currency · alcohol · tobacco · explosives · ammunition
syndicate
Combined group pursuing shared interest
yakuza · fence · kingpin · racketeering · laundering · darknet · speakeasy · prohibition · racket · dealer
- Dystopia1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four, dystopian fiction, totalitarianism, Brave New World
- prisoncell block, inmate, jail, prison, prisoner
- prisonsprison, inmates, cells, prisons, prisoner
- arms tradearms trade, arms exports, arms dealer, arms trafficking, arms deals
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- aviation threatshijacking, skyjacking, bomb threat, terrorism, explosive
contrabandlegal
Permitted by statute
permitted · lawful · allowed · authorised · licensed merchandise
- contraband goodsProhibited items for trade
- contraband tradeIllegal exchange of banned goods