Section 44: Powers of officers

44. Powers of officers (1) Where an officer has reasonable ground to suspect that a person has committed or is about to commit an offence under this Act, the officer may require that person to state his full name and address. (2) Where a person is found committing an offence within any reserved land, an officer may require that person to leave the reserved land forthwith. (3) An officer may— (a) seize anything which he reasonably suspects is the object or evidence of an offence under this Act; (b) enter premises or a vehicle which he reasonably suspects to contain a species in violation of this Act and detain the species; N30A – 23 [Issue 8] Native Terrestrial Biodiversity and National Parks Act (c) examine any species which he reasonably suspects to be a species transported, acquired or traded in violation of this Act; (d) examine any record held in relation to species referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); (e) confiscate any species being held or traded in breach of this Act. (4) Any prescribed wildlife confiscated under this Act shall remain in the custody of the Management Authority which, after consultation with the Scientific Authority, shall— (a) send the species to a rescue centre; (b) return the species to the country of export; or (c) decide on the final disposal of the species. (5) Any expenses incurred as a result of any seizure, including custody costs, the costs of transporting and disposing of species, or of maintaining live animals and plants during the time of seizure, shall be recoverable from the offender.