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Copyright Act 1994

Border protection measures - Enforcement powers of Customs officers

144: Customs officer may seize goods in control of Customs

You could also call this:

"Customs officers can take goods that might be against the law"

Illustration for Copyright Act 1994

You can be stopped by a Customs officer if they think you have goods that break the law. The officer can take the goods if they think they are evidence of a crime against certain laws, such as section 131(1)(b), 198(1)(b), or 226C(1). The Customs officer follows special rules when taking the goods, which are explained in sections 134T to 134W.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM346663.

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Crime and justice > Police and safetyMoney and consumer rights > Consumer protectionTransport and travel > Border control
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"Looking at items held by Customs"

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144A: Chief executive may require person to produce documents concerning goods in control of Customs, or

"Customs can ask you to show documents if they think your imported goods break the law"

Part 7Border protection measures
Enforcement powers of Customs officers

144Customs officer may seize goods in control of Customs

  1. A Customs officer may seize any imported goods that are in the control of the Customs if the officer has reasonable cause to believe that they are evidence of, or of significant relevance to the investigation of, an offence against section 131(1)(b), 198(1)(b), or 226C(1).

  2. The provisions of sections 134T to 134W apply with all necessary modifications in respect of any imported goods seized under this section and in applying those provisions every reference to the chief executive must be read as a reference to the chief executive of the New Zealand Customs Service.

Notes
  • Section 144: substituted, on , by section 10 of the Copyright Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 72).