Burden of proof for foreign-origin gold requires lawful import evidence; unsupported claims can trigger confiscation and penalties.

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Full Text of the Document

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....Foreign-origin gold seized under a reasonable belief of smuggling is subject to a statutory burden of proof requiring the claimant-owner to establish lawful import. Foreign markings, unsupported purchase documents and failure to correlate those documents with the seized bars may establish that this burden remains undischarged, rendering the gold liable to confiscation. Confiscation may be accompanied by redemption on payment of the adjudged fine. A person who knowingly handles, transports or possesses goods known or reasonably believed to be liable to confiscation may incur penalty. Handling and possession of gold found liable to confiscation can therefore support both confiscation-related consequences and a statutory penalty.....