Anything illegal, such as prohibited weapons or counterfeit money, is termed as?

The term "contraband" refers specifically to items that are illegal to possess, trade, or transport. This can include prohibited weapons, illegal drugs, counterfeit money, or any other goods that are against the law to have in one’s possession. Contraband is often associated with violations of law and is typically seized by law enforcement during investigations or arrests.

In legal contexts, understanding contraband is crucial for law enforcement agencies as it helps determine what materials can be used as evidence in court proceedings. Evidence refers to items or information that are used to support an argument in a legal case but not all evidence is contraband. Similarly, index and defendant property have different meanings entirely, relating to classification of cases or assets owned by a defendant, but do not encompass the concept of illegal items.