P.R. Laws tit. 5, § 735a
The Secretary of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or his authorized representative is hereby authorized to:
(a) Detain, inspect and examine any person or means of transportation or cargo which arrives in Puerto Rico from any state, territory or district of the United States, or from any foreign country, or that moves within Puerto Rico, and any domestic or wild animal transported or brought by such person or means of transportation or cargo, if identified as such, and without the need of a search warrant, as long as, in the Secretary of Agriculture’s opinion or that of his representative, there is probable cause to believe that said person or means of transportation or cargo transports or carries any domestic or wild animal in violation of §§ 730—739 of this title or any regulations prescribed pursuant thereto; or that such means of transportation or cargo, or animal, is infected with any infectious or contagious disease, or is infected with parasites, such as ticks, borers or others, or is being introduced or moved in violation of §§ 730—739 of this title or any regulations or quarantine promulgated hereunder.
(b) Require the presentation of waybills, manifests, bills, shipping notices, conveyances or any other documents related to said domestic or wild animals which arrive in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from any state, territory or district of the United States and any foreign country, or that are moved within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, for inspection with the purpose of verifying compliance of §§ 730—739 of this title, or of any regulations or quarantine promulgated hereunder. Likewise, in the case of animals which are transported, conducted or moved exclusively within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Secretary of Agriculture or his authorized representative is empowered to require the presentation of bills, conveyances, inspection certificates or any other document which identifies or is related to such animals. It will be mandatory that the person in charge of such documents make them immediately available to the inspectors for the above stated purpose.
(c) With the consent of the importer, owner or person in charge, or through a search warrant to such effect, he may enter any place to inspect the domestic or wild animals whenever it is necessary to prevent or control the spread of infectious or contagious diseases in said animals, or their infestation by internal or external parasites.
History —June 18, 1957, No. 69, p. 161, added as § 6-A on June 8, 1979, No. 68, p. 140, § 4.