When, in the opinion of the Court, an offence has been committed against this Act, the opium, material, utensil, imple ment or apparatus in respect of, or by means of, which the offence was commit ted shall be confiscated (whether or not any person has been put on trial or convicted) along with all receptacles, packages, vessels, converings, animals, carts or other vehicles used or employed to contain or carry the same, unless, for sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, ·the Court directs otherwise;
Provided that any person having a lawful claim to any such commodity, article, animal, or other thing mentioned above, may file, before the Court, a claim in respect thereof within 30 days of such order of confiscation, and if the claim is made out to the satisfaction of the Court, the order of confiscation shall oe ~ncelled and the opium or other thing shall be returned to . such claimant.
CHAPTER VIIl Prohibition Authorities