Regulation of Importsand Exports Act 1995 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Enforcement and Monitoring Compliance
12. Seizure of goods and cash in certain cases
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A senior authorised officer may seize any goods in any place in respect of which he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that —
a false trade information certificate has been issued; or
an offence under this Act or any regulations made under this Act has been or is being committed.
All such goods must be delivered as soon as possible into the custody of the Director‑General and must be detained in custody pending an order of the court in regard to the disposal thereof made under this Act.
goods
“goods” means any movable or personal property whatsoever but does not include choses in action and money (except for a collector’s piece, an investment article or item of numismatic interest and currency notes imported or exported in substantial quantities);
In addition, if a senior authorised officer has reasonable cause to suspect that any cash found on any person may afford evidence as to the commission of any offence under this Act or any regulations made under this Act or breach of a provision of this Act or any regulations made under this Act, the senior authorised officer —
may seize the cash; and
must deliver the seized cash, as soon as possible into the custody of the Director‑General.
Despite subsection (2), if any goods seized is, in the opinion of the Director‑General, of a perishable nature or consists of an animal or other living creature, the Director‑General may at any time direct the sale thereof on such terms and in such manner and at such price as the Director‑General may think fit and the proceeds of the sale are thereupon treated for the purposes of this Act as though they were the goods seized.
Director-General
“Director-General” means the Director-General of Customs appointed under section 4(1) of the Customs Act 1960;