The Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 1990

Article 3(2)

SCHEDULE 3 THE DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENCES ACT 1986 AS MODIFIED

External confiscation orders

1.—(1) An order made by a court in a designated country for the purpose of recovering payments or other rewards received in connection with drug trafficking or their value is referred to in this Act as an “external confiscation order”.

(2) In subsection (1) above the reference to an order includes any order, decree, direction or judgment, or any part thereof, however described.

(3) A person against whom an external confiscation order has been made, or a person against whom proceedings which may result in an external confiscation order being made have been, or are to be, instituted in a court in a designated country, is referred to in this Act as “the defendant”.

Definition of principal terms used

5.—(1) In this Act “realisable property” means, subject to subsection (2) below—

(a) in relation to an external confiscation order made in respect of specified property, the property which is specified in the order; and

(b) in any other case—

(i) any property held by the defendant; and

(ii) any property held by a person to whom the defendant has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Act.

(2) Property is not realisable property if—

(a) an order under section 43 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973(1) (deprivation orders),

(b) an order under section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971(2) (forfeiture orders),

(c) an order under section 223 or 436 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975(3) (forfeiture of property), or

(d) an order under section 13(2), (3) or (4) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989(4) (forfeiture orders)

is in force in respect of the property.

(4) Subject to the following provisions of this section, for the purposes of this Act the value of property (other than cash) in relation to any person holding the property—

(a) where any other person holds an interest in the property, is—

(i) the market value of the first mentioned person’s beneficial interest in the property, less

(ii) the amount required to discharge any incumbrance (other than a charging order) on that interest, and

(b) in any other case, is its market value.

(5) Subject to subsection (10) below, references in this Act to the value at any time (referred to in subsection (6) below as “the material time”) of a gift caught by this Act or of any payment or reward are references to—

(a) the value of the gift, payment or reward to the recipient when he received it adjusted to take account of subsequent changes in the value of money, or

(b) where subsection (6) below applies, the value there mentioned,

whichever is the greater.

(6) Subject to subsection (10) below, if at the material time the recipient holds—

(a) the property which he received (not being cash), or

(b) property which, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents in his hands the property which he received,

the value referred to in subsection (5)(b) above is the value to him at the material time of the property mentioned in paragraph (a) above or, as the case may be, of the property mentioned in paragraph (b) above so far as it so represents the property which he received, but disregarding in either case any charging order.

(9) A gift (including a gift made before the commencement of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 1990) is caught by this Act if—

(a) it was made by the defendant at any time since the beginning of the period of six years ending when the proceedings were instituted against him, or

(b) it was made by the defendant at any time and was a gift of property—

(i) received by the defendant in connection with drug trafficking carried on by him or another, or

(ii) which in whole or part directly or indirectly represented in the defendant’s hands property received by him in that connection.

(10) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) the circumstances in which the defendant is to be treated as making a gift include those where he transfers property to another person directly or indirectly for a consideration the value of which is significantly less than the value of the consideration provided by the defendant, and

(b) in those circumstances, the preceding provisions of this section shall apply as if the defendant had made a gift of such share in the property as bears to the whole property the same proportion as the difference between the values referred to in paragraph (a) above bears to the value of the consideration provided by the defendant.

Cases in which restraint orders and charging orders may be made

7.—(1) The powers conferred on the High Court by sections 8(1) and 9(1) of this Act are exercisable where—

(a) proceedings have been instituted against the defendant in a designated country,

(b) the proceedings have not been concluded, and

(c) either an external confiscation order has been made in the proceedings or it appears to the High Court that there are reasonable grounds for believing that such an order may be made in them.

(2) Those powers are also exercisable where it appears to the High Court that proceedings are to be instituted against the defendant in a designated country and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an external confiscation order may be made in them.

(4) Where the court has made an order under section 8(1) or 9(1) of this Act by virtue of subsection (2) above, the court shall discharge the order if the proposed proceedings are not instituted within such time as the court considers reasonable.

Restraint orders

8.—(1) The High Court may by order (in this Act referred to as a “restraint order”) prohibit any person from dealing with any realisable property, subject to such conditions and exceptions as may be specified in the order.

(2) A restraint order may apply—

(a) where an application under subsection (4) below relates to an external confiscation order made in respect of specified property, to property which is specified in that order; and

(b) in any other case—

(i) to all realisable property held by a specified person, whether the property is described in the restraint order or not, and

(ii) to realisable property held by a specified person, being property transferred to him after the making of the restraint order.

(3) This section shall not have effect in relation to any property for the time being subject to a charge under section 9 of this Act.

(4) A restraint order—

(a) may be made only on an application by or on behalf of the government of a designated country or, in a case where an external confiscation order has been registered under section 26A of this Act, by a receiver appointed under section 11 of this Act, a Crown Prosecutor, or a person authorised in that behalf by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

(b) may be made on an ex parte application to a judge in chambers, and

(c) notwithstanding anything in Order 11 of the Rules of the Supreme Court, may provide for service on, or the provision of notice to, persons affected by the order in such manner as the High Court may direct.

(5) A restraint order—

(a) may be discharged or varied in relation to any property, and

(b) shall be discharged when the proceedings in relation to which the order was made are concluded.

(5A) An application for the discharge or variation of a restraint order may be made by any person affected by it.

(6) Where the High Court has made a restraint order, the court may at any time appoint a receiver—

(a) to take possession of any realisable property, and

(b) in accordance with the court’s directions, to manage or otherwise deal with any property in respect of which he is appointed,

subject to such exceptions and conditions as may be specified by the court; and may require any person having possession of property in respect of which a receiver is appointed under this section to give possession of it to the receiver.

(7) For the purposes of this section, dealing with property held by any person includes (without prejudice to the generality of the expression)—

(a) where a debt is owed to that person, making a payment to any person in reduction of the amount of the debt, and

(b) removing the property from England and Wales.

(8) Where the High Court has made a restraint order, a constable may for the purpose of preventing any realisable property being moved from England and Wales, seize the property.

(9) Property seized under subsection (8) above shall be dealt with in accordance with the court’s directions.

(10) The Land Charges Act 1972(5) and the Land Registration Act 1925(6) shall apply—

(a) in relation to restraint orders, as they apply in relation to orders affecting land made by the court for the purposes of enforcing judgments or recognisances; and

(b) in relation to applications for restraint orders, as they apply in relation to other pending land actions.

(11) A person applying for a restraint order under subsection (4)(a) above shall be treated for the purposes of section 57 of the Land Registration Act 1925 (inhibitions) as a person interested in relation to any registered land to which a restraint order or an application for such an order relates.

Charging orders in respect of land, securities etc.

9.—(1) The High Court may make a charging order on realisable property for securing the payment to the Crown—

(a) where a fixed amount is payable under an external confiscation order, of an amount not exceeding the amount so payable, and

(b) in any other case, of an amount equal to the value from time to time of the property charged.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a charging order is an order made under this section imposing on any such realisable property as may be specified in the order a charge for securing the payment of money to the Crown.

(3) A charging order—

(a) may be made only on an application by or on behalf of the government of a designated country or, in a case where an external confiscation order has been registered under section 26A of this Act, by a receiver appointed under section 11 of this Act, a Crown Prosecutor, or a person authorised in that behalf by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

(b) may be made on an ex parte application to a judge in chambers;

(c) notwithstanding anything in Order 11 of the Rules of the Supreme Court, shall provide for service on, or the provision of notice to, persons affected by the order in such manner as the High Court may direct; and

(d) may be made subject to such conditions as the court thinks fit and, without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph, such conditions as it thinks fit as to the time when the charge is to become effective.

(4) Subject to subsection (6) below, a charge may be imposed by a charging order only on—

(a) any interest in realisable property, being an interest held beneficially by the defendant or by a person to whom the defendant has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Act—

(i) in any asset of a kind mentioned in subsection (5) below, or

(ii) under any trust, or

(b) any interest in realisable property held by a person as trustee of a trust if the interest is in such an asset or is an interest under another trust and a charge may by virtue of paragraph (a) above be imposed by a charging order on the whole beneficial interest under the first-mentioned trust.

(5) The assets referred to in subsection (4) above are—

(a) land in England and Wales, or

(b) securities of any of the following kinds—

(i) government stock,

(ii) stock of any body (other than a building society) incorporated within England and Wales,

(iii) stock of any body incorporated outside England and Wales or of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom, being stock registered in a register kept at any place within England and Wales,

(iv) units of any unit trust in respect of which a register of the unit holders is kept at any place within England and Wales.

(6) In any case where a charge is imposed by a charging order on any interest in an asset of a kind mentioned in subsection (5)(b) above, the court may provide for the charge to extend to any interest or dividend payable in respect of the asset.

(7) The court may make an order discharging or varying the charging order and shall make an order discharging the charging order if the proceedings against the defendant in the designated country are concluded or the amount payment of which is secured by the charge is paid into court.

(8) An application for the discharge or variation of a charging order may be made by any person affected by it.

Charging orders — supplementary provisions

10.—(2) The Land Charges Act 1972 and the Land Registration Act 1925 shall apply in relation to charging orders as they apply in relation to orders or writs issued or made for the purpose of enforcing judgments.

(3) Where a charging order has been registered under section 6 of the Land Charges Act 1972, subsection (4) of that section (effect of non-registration of writs and orders registrable under that section) shall not apply to an order appointing a receiver made in pursuance of the charging order.

(4) Subject to any provisions made under section 11 of this Act or by rules of court, a charge imposed by a charging order shall have the like effect and shall be enforceable in the same courts and in the same manner as an equitable charge by the person holding the beneficial interest or, as the case may be, the trustees by writing under their hand.

(5) Where a charging order has been protected by an entry registered under the Land Charges Act 1972 or the Land Registration Act 1925, an order under section 9(7) of this Act discharging the charging order may direct that the entry be cancelled.

(7) In this section and section 9 of this Act, “building society”, “dividend”, “government stock”, “stock” and “unit trust” have the same meaning as in the Charging Orders Act 1979(7).

Applications for restraint and charging orders

10A.  Notwithstanding anything in rule 3(2) of Order 115 of the Rules of the Supreme Court 1965, an application under section 8(4) or 9(3) of this Act shall be supported by an affidavit which shall—

(a) state, where applicable, the grounds for believing that an external confiscation order may be made in the proceedings instituted or to be instituted in the designated country concerned;

(b) to the best of the deponent’s ability, give particulars of the realisable property in respect of which the order is sought and specify the person or persons holding such property;

(c) in a case to which section 7(2) of this Act applies, indicate when it is intended that proceedings should be instituted in the designated country concerned,

and the affidavit may, unless the court otherwise directs, contain statements of information or belief with the sources and grounds thereof.

Realisation of property

11.—(1) Where an external confiscation order has been registered in the High Court under section 26A of this Act, the High Court may, on the application of a Crown Prosecutor or a person authorised in that behalf by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, exercise the powers conferred by subsections (1A) to (6) below.

(1A) In respect of any sum of money payable under the external confiscation order the court may make a garnishee order as if the sum were due to the Crown in pursuance of a judgment or order of the High Court, but any such order shall direct that the sum payable be paid to the High Court.

(2) The court may appoint a receiver in respect of realisable property.

(3) The court may empower a receiver appointed under subsection (2) above, under section 8 of this Act or in pursuance of a charging order—

(a) to enforce any charge imposed under section 9 of this Act on realisable property or on interest or dividends payable in respect of such property, and

(b) in relation to any realisable property other than property for the time being subject to a charge under section 9 of this Act, to take possession of the property subject to such conditions or exceptions as may be specified by the court.

(4) The court may order any person having possession of realisable property to give possession of it to any such receiver.

(5) The court may empower any such receiver to realise any realisable property in such manner as the court may direct.

(6) The court may order any person holding an interest in realisable property to make such payment to the receiver in respect of any beneficial interest held by the defendant or, as the case may be, the recipient of a gift caught by this Act as the court may direct and the court may, on the payment being made, by order transfer, grant or extinguish any interest in the property.

(7) Subsections (4) to (6) above do not apply to property for the time being subject to a charge under section 9 of this Act.

(8) The court shall not in respect of any property exercise the powers conferred by subsections (3)(a), (5) or (6) above unless a reasonable opportunity has been given for persons holding any interest in the property to make representations to the court.

Application of proceeds of realisation and other sums

12.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the following sums in the hands of a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act or in pursuance of a charging order, that is—

(a) the proceeds of the enforcement of any charge imposed under section 9 of this Act,

(b) the proceeds of the realisation, other than by the enforcement of such a charge, of any property under section 8 or 11 of this Act, and

(c) any other sums, being property held by the defendant,

shall first be applied in payment of such expenses incurred by a person acting as an insolvency practitioner as are payable under section 17A(2) of this Act and then shall, after such payments (if any) as the High Court may direct have been made out of those sums, be paid to the High Court and applied for the purposes specified in subsections (3) to (6) below, and in the order so specified.

(2) Where a fixed amount is payable under the external confiscation order and, after that amount has been fully paid, any such sums remain in the hands of such a receiver, the receiver shall distribute those sums—

(a) among such of those who held property which has been realised under this Act, and

(b) in such proportions,

as the High Court may direct after giving a reasonable opportunity for such persons to make representations to the court.

(4) Any sums paid to the High Court under subsection (1) above or under an order made under section 11(1A) of this Act or otherwise in satisfaction of an external confiscation order shall be first applied to pay any expenses incurred by a person acting as an insolvency practitioner and payable under section 17A(2) of this Act but not already paid under subsection (1) above.

(5) If the money was paid to the High Court by a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act, or in pursuance of a charging order the receiver’s remuneration and expenses shall next be paid.

(6) After there has been made—

(a) any payment required by subsection (4) above; and

(b) in a case to which subsection (5) above applies, any payment required by that subsection,

any amount paid under section 18(2) of this Act shall be reimbursed.

(7) Any sums remaining after all the payments required to be made under the foregoing provisions of this section have been made shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Exercise of powers by High Court or receiver

13.—(1) The following provisions apply to the powers conferred on the High Court by sections 8 to 12 of this Act, or on a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act or in pursuance of a charging order.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the powers shall be exercised with a view to recovering property which is liable to be recovered under an external confiscation order registered in the High Court under section 26A of this Act or, as the case may be, with a view to making available for recovery property which may become liable to be recovered under any external confiscation order which may be made in the defendant’s case.

(3) In the case of realisable property held by a person to whom the defendant has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Act, the powers shall be exercised with a view to realising no more than the value for the time being of the gift.

(4) The powers shall be exercised with a view to allowing any person other than the defendant or the recipient of any such gift to retain or recover the value of any property held by him.

(5) An order may be made or other action taken in respect of a debt owed by the Crown.

(6) In exercising those powers, no account shall be taken of any obligations of the defendant or of the recipient of any such gift which conflict with the obligation to satisfy the external confiscation order.

Bankruptcy of defendant etc.

15.—(1) Where a person who holds realisable property is adjudged bankrupt—

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order made before the order adjudging him bankrupt, and

(b) any proceeds of property realised by virtue of section 8(6) or 11(5) or (6) of this Act for the time being in the hands of a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act,

is excluded from the bankrupt’s estate for the purposes of Part IX of the Insolvency Act 1986(8).

(2) Where a person has been adjudged bankrupt, the powers conferred on the High Court by sections 8 to 12 of this Act or on a receiver so appointed shall not be exercised in relation to—

(a) property for the time being comprised in the bankrupt’s estate for the purposes of that Part,

(b) property in respect of which his trustee in bankruptcy may (without leave of court) serve a notice under section 307 or 308 of that Act (after-acquired property and tools, clothes etc. exceeding value of reasonable replacement), and

(c) property which is to be applied for the benefit of creditors of the bankrupt by virtue of a condition imposed under section 280(2)(c) of that Act.

(3) Nothing in that Act shall be taken as restricting, or enabling the restriction of, the exercise of those powers.

(4) Subsection (2) above does not affect the enforcement of a charging order—

(a) made before the order adjudging the person bankrupt, or

(b) on property which was subject to a restraint order when the order adjudging him bankrupt was made.

(5) Where, in the case of a debtor, an interim receiver stands appointed under section 286 of that Act and any property of the debtor is subject to a restraint order, the powers conferred on the receiver by virtue of that Act do not apply to property for the time being subject to the restraint order.

(6) Where a person is adjudged bankrupt and has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Act—

(a) no order shall be made under section 339 or 423 of that Act (avoidance of certain transactions) in respect of the making of the gift at any time when property of the person to whom the gift was made is subject to a restraint order or charging order, and

(b) any order made under either of those sections after the discharge of the restraint or charging order shall take into account any realisation under this Act of property held by the person to whom the gift was made.

(7) In any case in which a petition in bankruptcy was presented, or a receiving order or an adjudication in bankruptcy was made, before 29th December 1986 (the date on which the Insolvency Act 1986 came into force), subsection (2) above shall have effect as if—

(a) for the reference to the bankrupt’s estate for the purposes of Part IX of the Insolvency Act 1986 there were substituted a reference to the property of the bankrupt for the purposes of the Bankruptcy Act 1914(9);

(b) for the reference to section 280(2)(c) of the Act of 1986 there were substituted a reference to section 26(2) of that Act; and

(c) subsection (2)(b) were omitted.

Sequestration in Scotland of defendant, etc.

16.—(1) Where the estate of a person who holds realisable property is sequestrated—

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order made before the award of sequestration, and

(b) any proceeds of property realised by virtue of section 8(6) or 11(5) or (6) of this Act for the time being in the hands of a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act,

is excluded from the debtor’s estate for the purposes of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985(10).

(2) Where an award of sequestration has been made, the powers conferred on the High Court by sections 8 to 12 of this Act or on a receiver so appointed shall not be exercised in relation to—

(a) property comprised in the whole estate of the debtor within the meaning of section 31(8) of that Act,

(b) any income of the debtor which has been ordered, under subsection (2) of section 32 of that Act, to be paid to the permanent trustee or any estate which, under subsection (6) of that section, vests in the permanent trustee,

and it shall not be competent to submit a claim in relation to the confiscation order to the permanent trustee in accordance with section 48 of that Act.

(3) Nothing in that Act shall be taken as restricting, or enabling the restriction of, the exercise of those powers.

(4) Subsection (2) above does not affect the enforcement of a charging order—

(a) made before the award of sequestration, or

(b) on property which was subject to a restraint order when the award of sequestration was made.

(5) Where, during the period before sequestration is awarded, an interim trustee stands appointed under the proviso to section 13(1) of that Act and any property in the debtor’s estate is subject to a restraint order, the powers conferred on the trustee by virtue of that Act do not apply to property for the time being subject to the restraint order.

(6) Where the estate of a person is sequestrated and he has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Act—

(a) no decree shall be granted under section 34 or 36 of that Act (gratuitous alienations and unfair preferences) in respect of the making of the gift at any time when property of the person to whom the gift was made is subject to a restraint order or charging order, and

(b) any decree made under either of those sections after the discharge of the restraint or charging order shall take into account any realisation under this Act of property held by the person to whom the gift was made.

(7) In any case in which, notwithstanding the coming into force of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1913 applies to a sequestration, subsection (2) above shall have effect as if for paragraphs (a) and (b) thereof there were substituted the following paragraphs—

“(a) property comprised in the whole property of the debtor which vests in the trustee under section 97 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1913(11),

(b) any income of the bankrupt which has been ordered under subsection (2) of section 98 of that Act, to be paid to the trustee or any estate which, under subsection (1) of that section, vests in the trustee”;

and subsection (3) above shall have effect as if for the reference therein to the Act of 1985 there were substituted a reference to the Act of 1913.

Winding up of company holding realisable property

17.—(1) Where realisable property is held by a company and an order for the winding up of the company has been made or a resolution has been passed by the company for the voluntary winding up, the functions of the liquidator (or any provisional liquidator) shall not be exercisable in relation to—

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order made before the relevant time, and

(b) any proceeds of property realised by virtue of section 8(6) or 11(5) or (6) of this Act for the time being in the hands of a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act.

(2) Where, in the case of a company, such an order has been made or such a resolution has been passed, the powers conferred on the High Court by sections 8 to 12 of this Act or on a receiver so appointed shall not be exercised in relation to any realisable property held by the company in relation to which the functions of the liquidator are exercisable—

(a) so as to inhibit him from exercising those functions for the purpose of distributing any property held by the company to the company’s creditors, or

(b) so as to prevent the payment out of any property of expenses (including the remuneration of the liquidator or any provisional liquidator) properly incurred in the winding up in respect of the property.

(3) Nothing in the Insolvency Act 1986 shall be taken as restricting, or enabling the restriction of, the exercise of those powers.

(4) Subsection (2) above does not affect the enforcement of a charging order made before the relevant time or on property which was subject to a restraint order at the relevant time.

(5) In this section—

“company” means any company which may be wound up under the Insolvency Act 1986; and

“the relevant time” means—

(a)

where no order for the winding up of the company has been made, the time of the passing of the resolution for voluntary winding up,

(b)

where such an order has been made and, before the presentation of the petition for the winding up of the company by the court, such a resolution has been passed by the company, the time of the passing of the resolution, and

(c)

in any other case where such an order has been made, the time of the making of the order.

(6) In any case in which a winding up of a company commenced, or is treated as having commenced, before 29th December 1986 (the date on which the Insolvency Act 1986 came into force) this section has effect with the substitution for references to that Act of references to the Companies Act 1985(12).

Insolvency officers dealing with property subject to restraint order

17A.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of any enactment contained in the Insolvency Act 1986 or in any other Act, where—

(a) any person acting as an insolvency practitioner seizes or disposes of any property in relation to which his functions are not exercisable because it is for the time being subject to a restraint order; and

(b) at the time of the seizure or disposal he believes, and has reasonable grounds for believing that he is entitled (whether in pursuance of an order of the court or otherwise) to seize or dispose of that property,

he shall not be liable to any person in respect of any loss or damage resulting from the seizure or disposal except in so far as the loss or damage is caused by his negligence in so acting; and a person so acting shall have a lien on the property, or the proceeds of its sale, for such of his expenses as were incurred in connection with the liquidation, bankruptcy or other proceedings in relation to which the seizure or disposal purported to take place for so much of his remuneration as may reasonably be assigned for his acting in connection with those proceedings.

(2) Any person who, acting as an insolvency practitioner, incurs expenses—

(a) in respect of such property as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above and in so doing does not know and has no reasonable grounds to believe that the property is for the time being subject to a restraint order; or

(b) other than in respect of such property as is so mentioned, being expenses which, but for the effect of a restraint order, might have been met by taking possession of and realising the property,

shall be entitled (whether or not he has seized or disposed of that property so as to have a lien under that subsection) to payment of those expenses under section 12(1) of this Act.

(3) In this Act, the expression “acting as an insolvency practitioner” shall be construed in accordance with section 388 (interpretation) of the said Act of 1986 except that for the purposes of such construction the reference in subsection (2)(a) of that section to a permanent or interim trustee in sequestration shall be taken to include a reference to a trustee in sequestration and subsection (5) of that section (which provides that nothing in the section is to apply to anything done by the official receiver) shall be disregarded; and the expression shall also comprehend the official receiver acting as receiver or manager of the property.

Receivers: supplementary provisions

18.—(1) Where a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act or in pursuance of a charging order takes any action—

(a) in relation to property which is not realisable property, being action which he would be entitled to take if it were such property,

(b) believing, and having reasonable grounds for believing, that he is entitled to take that action in relation to that property,

he shall not be liable to any person in respect of any loss or damage resulting from his action except in so far as the loss or damage is caused by his negligence.

(2) Any amount due in respect of the remuneration and expenses of a receiver so appointed shall, if no sum is available to be applied in payment of it under section 12(5) of this Act, be paid by the person on whose application the receiver was appointed.

Registration of external confiscation order

26A.—(1) On an application made by or on behalf of the government of a designated country, the High Court may register an external confiscation order made there if—

(a) it is satisfied that at the time of registration the order is in force and not subject to appeal;

(b) it is satisfied, where the person against whom the order is made did not appear in the proceedings, that he received notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to defend them; and

(c) it is of the opinion that enforcing the order in England and Wales would not be contrary to the interests of justice.

(2) In subsection (1) above “appeal” includes—

(a) any proceedings by way of discharging or setting aside a judgment; and

(b) an application for a new trial or a stay of execution.

(3) The High Court shall cancel the registration of an external confiscation order if it appears to the court that the order has been satisfied by payment of the amount due under it or by the person against whom it was made serving imprisonment in default of payment or by any other means.

Power to inspect Land Register

33.—(1) The Chief Land Registrar (in this section referred to as “the registrar”) shall, on an application under subsection (4) below made in relation to a person specified in the application or to property so specified, provide the applicant with any information kept by the registrar under the Land Registration Act 1925 which relates to the person or property so specified.

(4) An application may be made by a receiver appointed under section 8 or 11 of this Act and on an application under this subsection there shall be given to the registrar—

(a) a document certified by the proper officer of the court to be a true copy of the order appointing the receiver, and

(b) a certificate that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is information kept by the registrar which is likely to facilitate the exercise of the powers conferred on the receiver in respect of the person or property specified in the application.

(5) The reference in subsection (1) above to the provision of information is a reference to its provision in documentary form.

General interpretation

38.—(1) In this Act—

• “constable” includes a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

• “corresponding law” has the same meaning as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971(13);

• “drug trafficking” means doing or being concerned in any of the following, whether in England and Wales or elsewhere—

  (a)

  producing or supplying a controlled drug where the production or supply contravenes section 4(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or a corresponding law;

  (b)

  transporting or storing a controlled drug where possession of the drug contravenes section 5(1) of that Act or a corresponding law;

  (c)

  importing or exporting a controlled drug where the importation or exportation is prohibited by section 3(1) of that Act or a corresponding law;

  and includes a person doing the following, whether in England and Wales or elsewhere, that is entering into or being otherwise concerned in an arrangement whereby—

  (i)

  the retention or control by or on behalf of another person of the other person’s proceeds of drug trafficking is facilitated, or

  (ii)

  the proceeds of drug trafficking by another person are used to secure that funds are placed at the other person’s disposal or are used for the other person’s benefit to acquire property by way of investment;

• “interest”, in relation to property, includes right;

• “property” includes money and all other property, real or personal, heritable or moveable, including things in action and other intangible or incorporeal property.

(2) The expressions listed in the left hand column below are respectively defined or (as the case may be) fall to be construed in accordance with the provisions of this Act listed in the right hand column in relation to those expressions.

Expression	Relevant provision
Charging order	Section 9(2)
External confiscation order	Section 1
Dealing with property	Section 8(7)
Defendant	Section 1
Gift caught by this Act	Section 5(9)
Making a gift	Section 5(10)
Realisable property	Section 5(1)
Restraint order	Section 8(1)
Value of gift, payment or reward	Section 5
Value of property	Section 5(4)

(3) This Act applies to property whether it is situated in England and Wales or elsewhere.

(5) References in this Act to anything received in connection with drug trafficking include a reference to anything received both in that connection and in some other connection, and whether received before or after the commencement of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 1990 and whether received in connection with drug trafficking carried on by the recipient or some other person.

(6) The following provisions shall have effect for the interpretation of this Act.

(7) Property is held by any person if he holds any interest in it.

(8) References to property held by a person include a reference to property vested in his trustee in bankruptcy, permanent or interim trustee within the meaning of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 or liquidator.

(9) References to an interest held by a person beneficially in property include a reference to an interest which would be held by him beneficially if the property were not so vested.

(10) Property is transferred by one person to another if the first person transfers or grants to the other any interest in the property.

(11) Proceedings are instituted in a designated country when

(a) under the law of the designated country concerned one of the steps specified in relation to that country in column 2 of the Appendix hereto has been taken there in respect of alleged drug trafficking by the defendant, or

(b) an application has been made to a court in a designated country for an external confiscation order,

and where the application of this subsection would result in there being more than one time for the institution of proceedings, they shall be taken to have been instituted at the earliest of those times.

(12) Proceedings for an offence are concluded—

(a) when (disregarding any power of a court to grant leave to appeal out of time) there is no further possibility of a confiscation order being made in the proceedings;

(b) on the satisfaction of a confiscation order made in the proceedings (whether by the recovery of all property liable to be recovered, or the payment of any amount due, or otherwise).

(13) An order is subject to appeal until (disregarding any power of a court to grant leave to appeal out of time) there is no further possibility of an appeal on which the order could be varied or set aside.

Minor amendments

39.—(1) Section 28 of the Bankruptcy Act 1914 (effect of order of discharge) shall have effect as if amounts payable under external confiscation orders were debts excepted under subsection (1)(a) of that section.

(5) Section 281(4) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (discharge of bankrupt not to release him from liabilities in respect of fines, etc.) shall have effect as if the reference to a fine included a reference to an external confiscation order.

(6) Section 55(2) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (discharge of debtor not to release him from liabilities in respect of fines etc.) shall have effect as if the reference to a fine included a reference to an external confiscation order.

APPENDIX INSTITUTION OF PROCEEDINGS

Designated country	Point at which proceedings are instituted
Anguilla	(a) when a summons or warrant is issued in respect of an offence; (b) when a person is charged with an offence after being taken into custody without a warrant; (c) when a bill of indictment is preferred
Australia	(a) when an information has been laid before a justice of the peace; (b) when a person is charged with an offence after having been taken into custody without a warrant; (c) when a bill of indictment is preferred
the Bahamas	(a) when an information has been laid before a justice of the peace; (b) when a person is charged with an offence after having been taken into custody without a warrant; (c) when a bill of indictment is preferred
Bermuda	when an information is laid charging a person with an offence
Gibraltar	when a person is charged with an offence, whether by the laying of an information or otherwise
Guernsey	when a person is charged with an offence
Isle of Man	(a) where a justice of the peace issues a summons under section 13 of the Petty Sessions and Summary Jurisdiction Act 1927, when the complaint in relation to the offence is made to him; (b) where a justice of the peace issues a warrant for the arrest of any person under that section, when the complaint in relation to the offence is made to him; (c) where a person is charged with the offence after being taken into custody without a warrant, when he is taken into custody; (d) where an information is preferred by the Attorney General in a case where there have been no committal proceedings, when the information is lodged in the General Registry in accordance with section 4(1) of the Criminal Code Amendment Act 1917
Jersey	(a) when the Bailiff issues a warrant in respect of an offence for the arrest of a person who is out of the island; (b) when a person is arrested and charged with an offence; (c) when a summons in respect of an offence is served on a person at the instance of the Attorney General; (d) when a summons in respect of the offence is served on a person in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of the Police Court (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Law, 1949
Malaysia	when a person is charged with an offence
Spain	when by virtue of a judicial resolution it is decided to proceed against a person for an offence
Sweden	when a public prosecutor has established that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed an offence and accordingly is obliged under the Code of Judicial Procedure to notify the person of the suspicion
Switzerland	when proceedings for an offence are brought before an examining magistrate
United Mexican States	When criminal proceedings are instituted by a judicial authority
United States of America	when an indictment, information or complaint has been filed against a person in respect of an offence

(1)

1973 c. 62. Section 43 was amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.69.

(2)

1971 c. 38.

(3)

1975 c. 21.

(4)

1989 c. 4.

(5)

1972 c. 61.

(6)

1925 c. 21.

(7)

1979 c. 53.

(8)

1986 c. 45.

(9)

1914 c. 59.

(10)

1985 c. 66.

(11)

1913 c. 20.

(12)

1985 c. 6.

(13)

1971 c. 38.