confiscation
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confiscation
The official seizure or confiscation of objects by a state authority such as the police, customs, or a court.
Die Beschlagnahme der illegal importierten Waren erfolgte direkt am Hafen.
The confiscation of the illegally imported goods took place directly at the port.
The noun 'die Beschlagnahme' (confiscation) is the nominalization of the verb 'beschlagnahmen' (to confiscate). Both words belong to formal administrative language and describe the act of officially taking away property.
Der Zollbeamte musste die gefälschten Uhren beschlagnahmen.
The customs officer had to confiscate the counterfeit watches.
This word belongs to a formal register and is used mainly in legal, police, or administrative contexts. It rarely occurs in everyday speech.
Im Protokoll wurde die Beschlagnahme genau dokumentiert.
The confiscation was documented precisely in the report.
To specify what is being taken away, German usually uses the preposition 'von' followed by the dative. This construction is very common.
Die Beschlagnahme von Beweismitteln ist ein wichtiger Schritt im Ermittlungsverfahren.
The seizure of evidence is an important step in the investigation process.
approval / release
'die Freigabe' and 'die Beschlagnahme' can be opposites when objects or goods are involved. In a 'Beschlagnahme', an authority officially takes something away or seizes it. With a 'Freigabe', something may be used, sold, or returned again. So 'Beschlagnahme' means control and removal by the state, while 'Freigabe' means permission or the lifting of that control. This contrast is especially typical with the police, customs, or courts.
Wegen falscher Papiere ordnete die Polizei die Beschlagnahme des Autos an.
Because of incorrect paperwork, the police ordered the confiscation of the car.
Nach der Prüfung durch den Zoll kam die Freigabe der Pakete.
After the customs inspection, the packages were released.