Which of the following is considered contraband under Texas law?

• A. Property unrelated to any crime
• B. Property owned by a minor
• C. Property used in a first-degree felony
• D. Property used in a misdemeanor

Answer: (C)

In Texas asset forfeiture, contraband is property that has a direct connection to criminal activity and can be seized because it was used to commit or facilitate a crime, especially a serious one. The key idea is the link to wrongdoing, not who owns the item. So something that has no crime connection isn’t contraband. Merely owning property, even if the owner is a minor, isn’t contraband by itself. And while a property might be used in a misdemeanor, Texas forfeiture laws typically focus on felonies; property used in a first-degree felony is considered contraband because it serves as the instrument or proceeds of a serious crime and is subject to forfeiture.