Seizure

Seizure refers to the compulsory detention measures taken by customs, import and export regulatory authorities, or law enforcement agencies in accordance with the law against import and export goods, means of transport, documents, or funds, usually due to suspected violations of customs laws, trade controls, intellectual property infringement, smuggling, tax evasion, or false declaration. Usage scenarios include abnormalities found during customs inspection, infringement reports by rights holders, investigations into suspected violations, etc. Unlike 'Detention', seizure emphasizes law enforcement compulsion and may ultimately lead to confiscation or fines; whereas detention may be a temporary administrative measure that does not necessarily constitute a violation. Compared with 'attachment', seizure targets movable property, while attachment can target real estate or accounts. Precautions: Once goods are seized, enterprises should immediately contact the customs broker or lawyer, verify the reason and legal basis for the seizure, submit evidence or apply for a hearing in a timely manner to avoid missing the appeal period; at the same time, review the force majeure, liability allocation, and insurance clauses in the contract to clarify loss bearing. Seizure may incur port demurrage, storage fees, and even affect the enterprise's credit rating, so it is necessary to strengthen document review and intellectual property screening in trade compliance.