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Contraband
The English word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," derived via Italian contrabando from Latin contra "against" + Middle Latin bannum (from Frankish root ban "a command", as in Italian bando 'law'; also the root of 'banishment'), denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed, sold et cetera.
However the term is also commonly and in legal language used for goods that by their nature, e.g. too dangerous or offensive in the eyes of the legislator (those are termed contraband in se) are forbidden, and for so-called derivative contrabande, i.e. goods that may normally be owned but are liable to be seized because they were used in committing an unlawful act and hence begot illegally, such as:
- smuggler goods
- stolen goods - knowingly participating in their trade is an offense in itself, called fencing
- the fruits of fraud, forgery etc.
Contraband Update
The Texas prison system remains on lockdown searching for contraband; here are a few interesting details from recent MSM coverage...
Contraband prosecutions
After all the hubbub about contraband smuggling in state prisons, it's ironic that the only recent example we've seen of indictments against prison staff for contraband comes from a privately run federal facility...
Contraband candy student reinstated
New Haven, Ct. honors student Michael Sheridan, suspended and removed from his elected class post after being caught buying a bag of Skittles candy from a fellow student in violation of his school's policy against empty-calorie food, will be reinstated, the school says...
Skittles - The Crunchy Candy Contraband
We used to think my brother loved pickles. I'd hear him in the morning while our Mom was packing our lunch for school, "two cups, Mom, don't forget!" We found out later, about 20 years later, that my brother didn't...
Moore: Sex for Contraband Conspiracy Affirmed
In U.S. v. Moore, No. 07-10326 (April 22, 2008), the Court affirmed the convictions of two correctional officers convicted of "bribery...
Even death row not immune to contraband smuggling
There's no more secure environment in all of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice than death row, so how did murderers there get access to a cell phone used to make hundreds of calls including to Sen...
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