(1) In this section,
"prescribed period" , in relation to any substance or container seized under
section 45 (1) (h), means the period of 6 months commencing from the time of
seizure of the substance or container or any other period fixed by the Local
Court in relation to the substance or container upon application made by or on
behalf of the Minister in the prescribed manner.
(b) unless during the period the substance or
container has been forfeited to the Crown under section 47, may be returned to
the person from whom it was seized.
(3) A substance or container seized under
section 45 (1) (h) shall, at the expiration of the prescribed period, be
returned to the person from whom it was seized, or to the person who appears
to the Authority to be its owner, unless--
(a) it was, during that period,
forfeited to the Crown under section 47, or
(b) the Authority causes a notice
to be advertised in the prescribed manner before the expiration of the
prescribed period to the effect that application will be made on a specified
day for forfeiture to the Crown of the substance or container.
(4) Where a
notice is advertised under subsection (3), the substance or container to which
the advertisement relates shall, forthwith after the application referred to
in the advertisement has been withdrawn or determined, be returned to the
person from whom it was seized, or to the person who appears to the Authority
to be the owner, unless the substance or container has been forfeited to the
Crown.