Search and destruction of prohibited objects

(1) If the Commander, Belize Defence Force has grounds to suspect that an object is prohibited object, and it does not appear to him that the only persons in possession of that object are persons whose possession of the object is prevented from being a contravention of section 4 by the provisions of section 6, the Commander, Belize Defence Force may serve a notice– (a) to any person who appears to the Commander, Belize Defence Force to have the object; and (b) to any person not falling within paragraph (a) who appears to the Commander, Belize Defence Force to have an interest which the 10 Commander, Belize Defence Force believes will be materially affected by the service of the notice, to have the object destroyed or show cause why the object should not be destroyed within seven days of such notice. (2) If any person who is served with the notice fails to destroy the object or fails to show cause, he commits an offence and on summary conviction is liable to a fine of fifty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for seven years. (3) If the Commander, Belize Defence Force has cause to believe– (a) that a prohibited object is on premises to which the public has access or which are occupied by a person who consents to action being taken under this section; (b) that a case is not one where the only persons whose possession of the object are persons whose possession of the object is prevented from being a contravention of section 4 by virtue of section 6, the Commander, Belize Defence Force may authorize a fit and proper person to enter the premises and to search them. (4) If (whatever the nature of the premises concerned) the magistrate is satisfied, on information on oath, that there is reasonable cause to believe that there are grounds for issuing a warrant under this section in relation to any premises, he may issue a warrant in writing authorizing a fit and proper person acting under the authority of the Commander, Belize Defence Force to enter the premises, if necessary by force, at any time within one month from the time of the issue of the warrant and to search them. 11 (5) A person who acts under the authorization or warrant under sub-section (3) or (4), may take with him such other persons and such equipment as appear to him necessary. (6) If a person enters premises under an authorization or warrant under sub-section (3) or (4), and a prohibited object is found there, he may make the object safe by the disconnection of a detonator or otherwise seize and remove it if it is reasonably practicable.