# Post Office Act 1908, Section 18: Postal packets with contraband goods


The Postmaster-General may detain any postal packet suspected to contain any contraband goods, and forward the packet to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, and those Commissioners, in the presence of the person to whom the packet is addressed, or if, after notice in writing from them, requiring his attendance, left at or forwarded by post to the address on the packet, he fails to attend, then in his absence, may open and examine the packet, and, if they find any contraband goods, may detain the packet and its contents for the purpose of prosecution ; and, if they find no contraband goods, shall either deliver the packet to the person to whom it is addressed, upon his paying the postage, if any, chargeable thereon, or, if he is absent, shall forward the packet to him by post.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw7/8/48/section/18 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/post-office-act-1908/section-18
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.