(a) If a State's Attorney, the Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery, an investigator duly acting for the Board of Liquor and Lottery, or a control commissioner makes a complaint under oath or affirmation to a judge of the Criminal Division of the Superior Court that he or she or they have reason to believe that alcoholic beverages or alcohol is kept or deposited for sale or distribution contrary to law, or that alcohol is manufactured or possessed contrary to law, in any kind of vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other conveyance, or a dwelling house, railway car, building, or place in the county, the judge shall issue a warrant to search the premises described in the complaint.

(b) If the alcoholic beverages or alcohol is found there under circumstances warranting the belief that it is intended for sale or distribution contrary to law, or if alcohol is found in that place under circumstances warranting the belief that it is unlawfully manufactured or possessed, or if any still or other apparatus for the manufacture of alcohol is found in that place, the officer shall seize and convey the alcoholic beverages, alcohol, or still or other apparatus to a secure place and keep it until the court renders a final judgment on it. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 33, eff. March 1, 1961; 1965, No. 194, § 10, operative Feb. 1, 1967; 1973, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. April 9, 1974; 2009, No. 154, § 238; 2017, No. 83, § 80; 2017, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 74.)