Customs Act 2015

Power to search premises or land

29. (1) A judge of the District Court, who is satisfied on information on oath of an officer of customs that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that—

(a) anything liable to forfeiture under the Customs Acts, or

(b) any records relating to transactions in contravention of the Customs Acts,

is or are kept or concealed on or at any premises or land, may issue a search warrant.

(2) A search warrant issued under this section shall be expressed and shall operate to authorise a named officer of customs, accompanied by such other officers of customs or persons or both as the officer considers necessary, at any time or times within one month from the date of issue of the warrant—

(a) to enter, if necessary by the use of reasonable force, the premises or land named or specified in the warrant,

(b) to search the premises or land,

(c) to require any person found on the premises or land to remain there for the duration of the search,

(d) to examine anything found on the premises or land,

(e) to inspect any record found on the premises or land,

and, if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that anything found is liable to forfeiture under the Customs Acts, or that anything found, including records, may be required as evidence in any proceedings under the Customs Acts or any other enactment, to seize or detain the thing as liable to forfeiture or, in the case of records, to detain them for so long as is reasonably required.

(3) In this section—

“land” includes any structure on land;

“structure” means building, structure or any other thing constructed, erected, placed or made on, in or under any land.