What is contraband?

What is contraband?

• A. Any property, the possession of which is prohibited by any provision of the general statutes
• B. Any property that is dangerous
• C. Any property that is stolen
• D. Any property whose possession is prohibited by law

Answer: (D)

Contraband is property whose possession is prohibited by law. The essential idea is not that the item is dangerous or that someone stole it, but that the law forbids owning or carrying it. For example, illegal drugs, unregistered firearms, or counterfeit money are contraband because the law prohibits possessing them. Items might be dangerous or stolen, but those traits alone don’t make them contraband unless the law specifically forbids possession. So the defining description is that possession of the property is prohibited by law.

Contraband is property whose possession is prohibited by law. The essential idea is not that the item is dangerous or that someone stole it, but that the law forbids owning or carrying it. For example, illegal drugs, unregistered firearms, or counterfeit money are contraband because the law prohibits possessing them. Items might be dangerous or stolen, but those traits alone don’t make them contraband unless the law specifically forbids possession. So the defining description is that possession of the property is prohibited by law.