16-11-141. Powers of arrest--search and seizure

(1) The department of justice is a criminal justice agency. Designated agents of the department of justice have peace officer status and may arrest any person violating any provision of this chapter, enter a complaint before any court of competent jurisdiction, and lawfully search and seize and use as evidence contraband found in the possession of any person or in any place.
(2) Any investigator or peace officer who finds a tobacco product that the investigator or peace officer has reasonable cause to believe is contraband may seize and remove the contraband and the packages in which the contraband is kept. The contraband and all packages containing the contraband must, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by this chapter, be forfeited to the state of Montana as provided in 16-11-159 and destroyed as provided in 16-11-158 .