American Samoa § 13.1033 - Forfeiture

§ 13.1033. Forfeiture

(a) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may be seized by the Territorial police upon process issued by any appropriate court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure without process may be made if: (1) the seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant; (2) the property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the territory in a criminal injunction or forfeiture proceeding based upon this chapter: (3) any employee authorized under 13.1030 has probable cause to believe that the property is directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety; or (4) any employee authorized under 13.1030 has probable cause to believe that the property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this chapter. (b) In the event of seizure pursuant to this section, proceedings under subsection (c) shall be instituted promptly. (c) Property taken or detained under this section or 13.1032, 13.1034 and 13.1035 is not subject to replevin, but is deemed to be in the custody of the Territorial police subject only to the orders and decrees of the court having jurisdiction over the forfeiture proceedings. When property is seized under this chapter, the Territorial police may: (1) place the property under seal; or (2) remove the property to a place designated by it. (d) When property is forfeited under this chapter, the territorial police may: (1) retain it for official use; (2) sell that which is not required to be destroyed by law and which is not harmful to the public. The proceeds shall be used for payment of all proper expenses of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising and court costs.