Section 24Part 4 — ENFORCEMENT AND OFFENCES
Seizure of items by inspector or deputy inspector
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24. (1) Where, pursuant to this Act an inspector or deputy inspector seizes a vessel, vehicle, article or thing reasonably suspected to have been used in the commission of an offence, the court may order either at the hearing or on application, that the item be returned to the person appearing to the court to be entitled to it or that it be disposed of otherwise in such manner as the court thinks appropriate. Section 25 Public Lands Act (2024 Revision) Page 14 Revised as at 31st December, 2023 c
An inspector or deputy inspector may, unless an order has been made under subsection (1), at any time return the item to the person from whom it was seized or may apply to the court for an order as to its disposal and a court may make any order that it might have made under subsection (1).
If no proceedings are taken in respect of an offence relating to the item seized within six months after the seizure under this Act or, if proceedings are taken but no order for forfeiture is made, the item shall be returned to the person from whom it was seized.
If no proceedings are taken in respect of an offence relating to the item seized within six months after the seizure under this Act or, if proceedings are taken but no order for forfeiture is made and the person from whom the item was seized cannot be located within a reasonable period of time, the inspector or deputy inspector shall dispose of the item by way of sale or in such manner as the inspector or deputy inspector considers appropriate.
If an item is sold in accordance with subsection (4), the proceeds of the sale shall be paid into the revenue of the Islands.