(2)Any conveyance or animal used as a means of transport in the smuggling of any goods or in the carriage of any smuggled goods shall be liable to confiscation, unless the owner of the conveyance or animal proves that it was so used without the knowledge or connivance of the owner himself, his agent, if any, and the person in charge of the conveyance or animal [* * *] [ Certain words omitted by Act 26 of 1988, Section 79 (w.e.f. 13.5.1988).]:Provided that where any such conveyance is used for the carriage of goods or passengers for hire, the owner of any conveyance shall be given an option to pay in lieu of the confiscation of the conveyance a fine not exceeding the market-price of the goods which are sought to be smuggled or the smuggled goods, as the case may be.Explanation.-In this section, "market-price" means market-price at the date when the goods are seized.
