contraband
n. uncountablen. goods that are brought into or out of a country illegally. You use this word for things like smuggled electronics, drugs, or weapons.
n. goods that have been imported or exported illegally, often in violation of trade bans or customs regulations. Refers to the illicit nature of the items themselves rather than the act of smuggling.
The guards searched the truck for contraband.
Customs officials seized a large shipment of contraband cigarettes hidden inside a furniture container.
The prison administration implemented stricter screening protocols to prevent the flow of contraband, such as mobile phones and narcotics, into the facility.
From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.
Typically functions as a collective noun for illegal goods; rarely used in the plural.