noun
illegal possession; unlawful possession
Legal term for possessing something prohibited by law, such as drugs or weapons. Often used in formal or legal contexts.
See also: 違法所持
彼は銃の不法所持で逮捕された。
He was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm.
不法所持の疑いで家宅捜索が行われた。
A house search was conducted on suspicion of unlawful possession.
Nearly synonymous; both mean illegal possession. 不法所持 is slightly more common in legal contexts, while 違法所持 is also used interchangeably.
Compound of 不法 (illegal) and 所持 (possession).