Central Excise Act, 1944
26. POWER OF STOPPAGE, SEARCH AND ARREST.
When any officer empowered 82a by the [ 91 Central Board of
Excise and Customs constituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963
(54 of 1963) 91 ], to act under this section has reason to believe, from
personal knowledge or from information taken down in writing, that any
excisable goods are being carried, or have within the previous twenty-four
hours been carried, in any vessel so as to render the owner or master of such
vessel liable to the penalties imposed by section 24, he may require such
vessel to be brought to and thereupon may –
(a) enter and search the vessel;
(b) require the master of the vessel to
produce any documents in his possession relating to the vessel or the cargo
thereof;
(c) seize the vessel if the officer has
reason to believe it liable to confiscation under this Act, and cause it to be
brought with its crew and cargo into any port in [ 92 India 92 ]; and
(d) where any excisable goods are found
on board the vessel, search and arrest without a warrant any person on board
the vessel whom he has reason to believe to be punishable under section 24.