Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

88.   Power of boarding

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    (1)   At any time while a vessel is in the territorial sea or an aircraft is at any customs airport, any officer may require that vessel or aircraft to stop and then may board it, and may remain on board it, and may rummage and search any part of it.

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    (2)   Any officer on board any vessel or aircraft under subsection (1) may—

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      (a)     cause any goods to be marked before they are unloaded from that vessel or aircraft;

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      (b)     examine any goods in the course of their being unloaded;

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      (c)     lock up, seal, mark or otherwise secure any goods carried in that vessel or aircraft or any place or container in which they are so carried;

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      (d)     break open any place or container which is locked and to which there is no access;

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      (e)     require any document or book which should be on board that vessel or aircraft to be produced to him or her for examination; and

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      (f)     require answers to all such questions relating to the vessel or aircraft, its cargo, stores, baggage, crew, passengers, voyage or flight as may be put by him or her,

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    and if any person on board prevents him or her from so doing, or refuses to produce any such document or book, or answer any such question, he or she commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000.

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    (3)   Any goods found concealed on board a vessel within the limits of the port or an aircraft at any customs airport, are liable to forfeiture.

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    (4)   Where any vessel or aircraft refuses to stop or permit an officer to board when required to do so under subsection (1), the master of that vessel or the commander of that aircraft commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for 2 years or to both and the vessel or aircraft is liable to forfeiture.