What is it called when a person's car is seized by the government after an arrest for drug trafficking?

The correct term for when a person's car is seized by the government after an arrest for drug trafficking is forfeiture. Forfeiture refers specifically to the legal process whereby the government can take possession of property associated with illegal activity. This is often applied in drug trafficking cases where the property is considered to be instrumental in the commission of a crime.

Confiscation typically implies a more general taking of property by authorities, often without compensation, but may not necessarily involve the legal proceedings associated with forfeiture. Surrender refers to voluntarily giving up possession or rights to something, which does not accurately capture the context of the government seizing a vehicle as part of a legal process. Seizure is closer to the action of taking possession, but it does not denote the legal implications, such as the property being subject to forfeiture due to its connection to criminal activity.

In summary, forfeiture encompasses both the act of seizure and the legal consequences that establish the government's right to permanently take the vehicle as part of enforcement against criminal activity, specifically in cases such as drug trafficking.