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Entry, search and seizure.
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15.—(1) Where, on the sworn information of a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of sergeant, a judge of the District Court is satisfied that—
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(a) it is reasonably necessary for the purpose of the enforcement of this Act that a place specified in the information should be searched by members of the Garda Síochána, or
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(b) there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that evidence of or relating to an offence under this Act is to be found at a place specified in the information,
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the judge may issue a warrant for the search of that place and any persons found at that place.
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(2) A warrant issued under this section shall authorise a named member of the Garda Síochána, alone or accompanied by such other members of the Garda Síochána and such other persons as may be necessary—
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(a) to enter, within 7 days from the date of the warrant and if necessary by the use of reasonable force, the place named in the warrant,
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(b) to search that place and any persons found there, and
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(c) to seize anything found there, or anything found in the possession of a person present there at the time of the search, which that member reasonably believes to be evidence of or relating to an offence under this Act.
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(3) A member of the Garda Síochána acting in accordance with a warrant issued under this section may require any person found at the place where the search is carried out to give the member his or her name and address.
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(4) Any person who—
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(a) obstructs or attempts to obstruct any member of the Garda Síochána acting in accordance with a warrant issued under subsection (1),
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(b) fails or refuses to comply with a requirement under this section, or
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(c) gives a name or address to such a member which is false or misleading,
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shall be guilty of an offence.
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(5) In this section, “place” includes any dwelling, any building or part of a building and any vehicle, vessel, structure or container used or intended to be used for the carriage of goods by road.
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