Absolute Contraband

In the laws of war, any goods that a belligerent may confiscate from a neutral party legally to prevent the possibility that they may be delivered to the enemy. Examples of absolute contraband include weapons, munitions, and machinery that can be used to manufacture weapons. Neutral parties have the right to trade with any or all belligerents in a war, and the confiscation of absolute contraband is not considered an act of war against the neutral party. See also: Conditional Contraband, Contraband.

References in periodicals archive

This appears to draw on the historical belligerent right to intercept weapons shipments as 'absolute contraband'.

2 reasonable suspicion that cargo aboard included weapons ('absolute contraband') destined for these adversaries.

The Proliferation Security Initiative: interdicting vessels in international waters to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction?

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