(1) A postal service provider or Bord Telecom Éireann, as the case may require may detain any postal packet posted in the State and suspected of containing any document relating to an unlawful lottery and shall forward every postal packet so detained to a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Superintendent.

(2) The member may open and examine the packet, but, in the case of an address within the State, only in the presence of the person to whom it is addressed unless, after notice in writing requiring his attendance left at or forwarded by post to the address on the packet, he fails to attend.

(3) If the member finds any such document he may detain the packet and its contents for the purpose of prosecution, and if he finds no such document he shall either deliver the packet to the person to whom it is addressed or, if he is absent, forward the packet to him by post.

(4) This section shall be construed as one with the Post Office Acts, 1908 to 1951.