Chapter XVIII
PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING - POWERS OF SEARCH, SEIZURE AND ARREST-ADJUDICATION OF OFFENCES
Seizure of things liable to confiscation
168. (1) The appropriate officer may seize any goods liable to confiscation under this Act, and where it is not practicable to seize any such goods, he may serve on the owner of the goods or any person holding them in his possession or charge an order that he shall not remove, part with, or otherwise deal with the goods except with the previous permission of such officer.
(2) Where any goods are seized under sub-section (1) and no show cause notice in respect thereof is given under section 180 within two months of the seizure of the goods, the goods shall be returned to the person from whose possession they were seized:
Provided that the aforesaid period of two months may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by the Commissioner of Customs by a period not exceeding two months.
(3) The appropriate officer may seize any documents or things which in his opinion will be useful as evidence in any proceeding under this Act.
(4) The person from whose custody any documents are seized under sub-section (3) shall be entitled to make copies thereof or take extracts therefrom in the presence of an officer of Customs.
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