2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 16 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES (§§ 16-1-1 — 16-17-10) › Chapter 13 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (§§ 16-13-1 — 16-13-122) › Article 2 - REGULATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (§§ 16-13-20 — 16-13-65) › Part 1 - SCHEDULES, OFFENSES, AND PENALITIES (§§ 16-13-20 — 16-13-56.1) › Section 16-13-49 - Declared items of contraband; forfeiture

(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
"Controlled substance" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
16-13-21
and shall include marijuana, as such term is defined in Code Section
16-13-21
.
(2)
"Enterprise" means any person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust, association, or other legal entity created under the laws of the United States or any foreign nation or a group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity and includes illicit as well as licit enterprises and governmental as well as other entities.
(3)
"Proceeds" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
9-16-2
.
(4)
"Property" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
9-16-2
.
(5)
"United States" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
9-16-2
.
(b)
Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section, the following are declared to be contraband and no person shall have a property right in them:
(1)
Any controlled substances, raw materials, or controlled substance analogs that have been manufactured, distributed, dispensed, possessed, or acquired in violation of this article;
(2)
Any property which is, directly or indirectly, used or intended for use in any manner to facilitate a violation of this article and any proceeds;
(3)
Any property located in this state which was, directly or indirectly, used or intended for use in any manner to facilitate a violation of this article or the laws of the United States relating to controlled substances that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and any proceeds;
(4)
Any interest, security, claim, or property or contractual right of any kind affording a source of influence over any enterprise that a person has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of in violation of this article or the laws of the United States relating to controlled substances that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and any proceeds;
(5)
Any property found in close proximity to any controlled substance or other property subject to forfeiture under this Code section; and
(6)
Any weapon available for any use in any manner to facilitate a violation of this article.
(c)
Any property subject to forfeiture pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall be forfeited in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 9.
(d)
Property shall not be subject to forfeiture under this Code section for a violation involving only one gram or less of a mixture containing cocaine or four ounces or less of marijuana unless such property was used to facilitate a transaction in or a purchase of or sale of a controlled substance.
(e)
In addition to persons authorized to seize property pursuant to Code Section
9-16-6
, property which is subject to forfeiture under this Code section may be seized by the director of the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency or by any drug agent of this state or any political subdivision thereof who has power to make arrests or execute process or a search warrant issued by any court having jurisdiction over the property.
(f)
Controlled substances included in Schedule I which are contraband and any controlled substance whose owners are unknown shall be summarily forfeited to the state. The court may include in any judgment of conviction under this article an order forfeiting any controlled substance involved in the offense to the extent of the defendant's interest.
Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 98,§ 2-22, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2004 Ga. Laws 526, § 3, eff. 5/13/2004.
Amended by 2003 Ga. Laws 32, § 7, eff. 12/31/2003.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 957, § 1, eff. 5/16/2002.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 885, §1C, eff. 7/1/2002.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 885, §1B, eff. 7/1/2002.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 885, §1A, eff. 7/1/2002.
Amended by 2001 Ga. Laws 191, § 30, eff. 7/1/2001.
By the terms of 2002 Ga. Laws 885, § 1C, eff. 7/1/2002, "Section 1 of House Bill 783 as enacted at the 2002 regular session of the General Assembly, which section amended paragraph (2) and enacted paragraph (2.1) of subsection (u) of Code Section 16-13-49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to forfeiture of certain contraband property relative to controlled substances, is hereby repealed."