§727 Powers of Employees of Department of the Interior

Summary

Gives certain Interior Department employees, when the Secretary allows it, the power to enforce the rules. They can arrest without a warrant if they see a violation happen, carry out warrants or court orders, and make searches with a court-issued search warrant. A U.S. judge or magistrate in the right area can issue those warrants if someone swears under oath that there is probable cause. Allows those employees or marshals to seize wildlife, plants, nests, eggs, and equipment (like guns, fishing gear, or boats) used or taken against the rules. The seizure must be reported to the U.S. attorney for that district for forfeiture either after a conviction under section 730 or by a special in-rem court action. Those actions follow admiralty-style civil rules, and either side can demand a jury if the value involved is more than $20. If the government does not start forfeiture in a reasonable time, the U.S. attorney must give notice and the custodian must release the items.