Power to search

Subject to section 50, where a Designated Officer is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a violation of the conditions of an operating licence or of the provisions of this Act or Regulations made thereunder has been, 46 is being, or is about to be committed and whether after an examination under section 48, or otherwise, the officer may, without notice– (a) enter any vehicle, vessel, land, premises, or farming facility and stop and detain any vehicle or vessel; (b) search the vehicle, vessel, land, premises, place or aquaculture facility and stop and detain any person found in or on them or it and any person whom the Officer reasonably believes to be about to enter or to have recently left the vehicle, land, premises, aquaculture facility or place; (c) break open and search any container, cupboard, drawer, chest, trunk, box, cage, package or other receptacle, whether a fixture or not, in or on the vehicle, vessel, land, premises, place, or aquaculture facility; (d) detain, remove, and secure any aquaculture animals, broodstock larvae and other aquatic organisms and any vehicle, vessel or gear, or any plant, motor, appliance, fitting or equipment in, on, or attached to any vehicle, vessel, land, premises, place or aquaculture facility if the Officer has reasonable grounds for believing that it is evidence of or otherwise related to a violation that has been, is being, or is about to be committed; (e) require the master or other person in charge of a vehicle or vessel to cause it to stop or to bring it to a place in Belize and to remain in control of it at that place until a Designated Officer permits the master or other person to depart from that place; Aquaculture Development [CAP. 204:01 47 (f) order a person to open a locked, barred or otherwise secured container, door, lid, drawer or other receptacle, or gate; and (g) take such action as is reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of a violation.