The Manx Treasury has put out a consultation document on proposals for a code to enable searches for cash linked to criminal conduct to be carried out more extensively than at present.

It follows in the wake of the United Kingdom, where such powers were brought in five years ago.

The code would use powers found in the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2008, which is currently awaiting Royal Assent.

Under existing law, police and customs officers have the power to seize cash from people entering or leaving the Island where there are reasonable grounds to suspect it is the proceeds of, or is intended for use in, criminal conduct.

The new move would allow them to search people or premises if there were reasonable grounds to suspect they concealed cash which would be liable to forfeiture, having either been obtained by means of criminal conduct, or intended for use in it.