Right To Inspect Goods, Means Of Transport And Persons
For the application of the provisions of the present law and with a view to detecting fraud, officers may inspect goods, means of transport and persons.
All drivers of means of transport must comply with the injunctions and stop signals of customs officers.
The latter can use any appropriate equipment to immobilize means of transport when drivers fail to stop at their command.
In the event of refusal to comply with the third injunction in a loud and clear voice, customs officers may use force to exercise this right of inspection.
Customs officers may visit any vessel under 100 tons net tonnage or 500 tons gross tonnage within the maritime zone of the customs radius.
Customs officers may board all vessels, including warships, in ports or roadsteads or up or down rivers and canals, and may remain there until they are unloaded or disembarked.
Commanding officers must receive customs agents, accompany them and, if they so request, have their ship’s hatches, rooms and lockers opened, as well as the packages designated for inspection. In the event of refusal, the agents may request the assistance of a judge (or, if there is none on the premises, of a municipal officer of the aforementioned place or an officer of the judicial police) who is required to open the hatches, chambers, cupboards and packages; a report is drawn up of this opening and observations made at the expense of the commanding officers.
Vessel and cargo inspectors may, at sunset, close hatches, which may only be opened in their presence.
On warships, visits may not be made after sunset.
Customs officers may at any time visit installations and devices on the continental shelf. They may also visit means of transport involved in the exploitation of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources, within the security zones provided for by law and within the maritime zone of the customs radius.
