Part VIIA—Search, seizure and powers of arrest
Division 5—General
38ZA Retention of things seized
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a police officer seizes a thing while executing a warrant issued under Division 2, he or she must:
(a) inform the Attorney General that the thing has been so seized; and
(b) retain the thing pending the Attorney General’s direction under subsection (4) about how to deal with the thing; and
(c) comply with any such direction that the Attorney General gives.
(2) If the thing seized is not evidential material relating to the proceeding or investigation relevant to the warrant, the police officer may make the thing available to officers of the police force of a State or Territory for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting an offence to which the thing relates.
(4) The Attorney General may, by written notice, give the police officer a direction about how to deal with the thing.
(5) Without limiting the directions that may be given, a direction may require the police officer to send the thing to a foreign country.
(6) The Attorney General must direct the police officer to return the thing if:
(a) the reason for its seizure no longer exists; or
(b) it is decided that the thing is not to be used in evidence in a foreign country or in respect of a criminal proceeding in Australia;
unless the thing is forfeited or forfeitable to the Commonwealth or is the subject of a dispute as to ownership.