The customs officers confiscated the prohibited items he was carrying.

confiscated 是动词 confiscate 的过去式，由前缀 con-（表示"完全"）和词根 fisc（源自拉丁语"国库"）加上动词后缀 -ate 组成，字面意思是"充入国库"，引申为"没收、扣押"的意思。