Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Act 2003

Release by order of Minister.

21.—Where a person is remanded under section 6 or a vessel or thing is detained or retained by an enforcement officer, in the exercise of his or her powers under the Act of 1994, outside the outer limit of the territorial seas of the State and—

(a) there are no longer reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person has committed the offence in respect of which he or she has been remanded,

(b) no request has been received from the relevant Convention state for the surrender of the person, vessel or thing within 18 days of the arrest, detention or retention concerned,

(c) the relevant Convention state has given notice that it does not intend to make a request under the Agreement for the surrender of the person, vessel or thing, or

(d) the relevant Convention state has requested the release under the Agreement of the person, vessel or thing,

the Minister shall order the release of the person, vessel or thing, as the case may be, and the person, vessel or thing shall be released forthwith.