Central Excise Act, 1944
28. CONFISCATION OF VESSEL AND CARGO.-
(1) Every vessel (including all appurtenances) in which any
excisable goods are carried so as to render the owner or master of such vessel
liable to penalties imposed by section 24, the cargo on board such vessel and
the excisable goods in respect of which an offence under this Act has been
committed shall be liable to confiscation on the orders of the officer
empowered 82a in this behalf by the Central Government.
(2) Whenever any Customs Officer is satisfied that any article
is liable to confiscation under this section he may seize such article, and
shall at once report the seizure to his superior officer for the information of
the officer empowered to order confiscation under sub-section (1) and such
officer may, if satisfied on such report or after making such inquiry as he
thinks fit, that the article so seized is liable to confiscation, either
declare it to be confiscated, or impose a fine in lieu thereof not exceeding
the value of the article.