Customs Act 2015 section 29

Power to search premises or land

Section 29 provides customs officers with the power, under a District Court search warrant, to enter and search premises or land where goods liable to forfeiture or records relating to customs offences are suspected to be kept or concealed.

• A District Court judge may issue a search warrant where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that goods liable to forfeiture or records relating to customs contraventions are kept or concealed on premises or land.
• The warrant authorises a named customs officer, along with any other officers or persons deemed necessary, to enter, search, and examine the premises or land at any time within one month of the warrant being issued.
• During the search, officers may seize goods suspected of being liable to forfeiture and detain records that may be needed as evidence in proceedings under the Customs Acts or any other law, for as long as is reasonably required.
• The term "land" includes any structure on the land, and "structure" means any building or other thing constructed, erected, placed or made on, in or under any land.