25.—(1) The provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code relating to the disposal of property the subject of offences shall apply to any article coming into the possession of an authority which the authority has reasonable ground for believing to be evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act, as they apply to property coming into the possession of the police, and in relation to any such article, shall have effect as if any reference therein to a police officer included a reference to an authority.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “authority” includes any public officer and any other person whomsoever having functions in connection with the operation of this Act.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be taken to prejudice any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in the law apart from this section.