DRUGS, POISONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT 1981 - SECT 83 Forfeiture of drug of dependence or substance before conviction

DRUGS, POISONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT 1981 - SECT 83

S. 83(1) amended by Nos 16/1986 s. 30, 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(iii), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 59.11), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.41), 40/2017 s. 15(1)(c), 25/2023 s. 7(Sch.  1 item 10.3).

    (1)     Upon application in that behalf by a police officer the Magistrates' Court may upon proof that—

S. 83(1)(a) amended by No. 40/2017 s. 15(1)(a).

        (a)     a substance is or contains a drug of dependence, a psychoactive substance or a poison or controlled substance; or

S. 83(1)(b) substituted by Nos 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(i), 40/2017 s. 15(1)(b).

        (b)     an instrument, device or substance is an instrument, device or substance that is or has been used or is capable of being used for or in—

              (i)     the cultivation, manufacture, sale or use or in the preparation for cultivation, manufacture, sale or use of a drug of dependence; or

              (ii)     the production, sale, commercial supply or preparation for sale or commercial supply of a psychoactive substance—

and upon such notice being given to such persons as the court directs, order that the instrument or device or the whole or any part or parts of the substance, drug of dependence, psychoactive substance or poison or controlled substance be forfeited to His Majesty and either destroyed or disposed of in such manner as is provided in the order, and may also make a finding of fact as to—

S. 83(1)(c) amended by Nos 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(ii), 40/2017 s. 15(1)(d).

        (c)     the quantity of the drug of dependence, psychoactive substance, substance or poison or controlled substance produced to, or inspected by, the court, the quantity ordered to be destroyed or disposed of, the quantity remaining, and the fact that what remains is part of what was produced to, or inspected by, the court; or

S. 83(1)(d) amended by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(ii).

        (d)     the nature of any instrument or device produced to, or inspected by, the court—

and may also order that the quantity remaining of the substance, drug of dependence, psychoactive substance or poison or controlled substance be forfeited to His Majesty and either destroyed or disposed of in such manner as is provided in the order when no longer required for the purpose of any subsequent proceedings.

S. 83(1A) inserted by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(iv), amended by No. 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 59.12).

    (1A)     The Magistrates' Court has power—

        (a)     to give any directions; or

        (b)     to authorise the Minister to give any appropriate directions—

necessary to give effect to any order made by it under subsection (1).

S. 83(2) amended by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(v).

    (2)     Where a finding of fact is made under subsection (1), production in any subsequent proceedings of an order containing the finding of fact shall be conclusive evidence of the matters to which the finding relates.

S. 83(3) inserted by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(vi).

    (3)     In subsection (1) "cultivation", in relation to a drug of dependence that is a narcotic plant, includes—

        (a)     the sowing of a seed of a narcotic plant; and

S. 83(3)(b) amended by No. 52/2006 s. 13(a).

        (b)     the planting, growing, tending, nurturing or harvesting of a narcotic plant; and

S. 83(3)(c) inserted by No. 52/2006 s. 13(b).

        (c)     the grafting, dividing or transplanting of a narcotic plant.

S. 83(4) inserted by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(d)(vi), amended by No. 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 59.13).

    (4)     Without limiting the manner in which evidence may be given on an application under subsection (1), the Court may inspect any place, process or thing.

S. 83(5) inserted by No. 48/1997 s. 44(6), amended by No. 40/2017 s. 15(2).

    (5)     If an order is made under subsection (1) requiring the destruction or disposal of an instrument or device or the whole or any part of any substance, drug of dependence, psychoactive substance or poison or controlled substance, the order may be executed before the end of any appeal period applicable under section 90 if a sample of the thing to be destroyed or disposed of is taken in accordance with this Act and kept until the end of that appeal period and the determination of any appeal made within that period.

S. 84 substituted by No. 10002 s. 7(1), repealed by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(e).

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Ss 85–89 substituted by No. 10002 s. 7(1), repealed by No. 101/1986 s. 55(1)(d ).

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S. 90 substituted by No. 10002 s. 7(1).