Seizure and sale of soft drink syrups by commissioner; forfeiture; collection of tax

Whenever the commissioner or any of his duly authorized agents shall discover any soft drink syrups, subject to tax as provided by this article and upon which the tax has not been paid as herein required, the commissioner or his duly authorized agent is hereby authorized and empowered forthwith to seize and take possession of such soft drink syrups, which shall thereupon be deemed to be forfeited to the state, and the commissioner shall within a reasonable time thereafter sell such forfeited soft drink syrups; and from the proceeds of such sale shall collect the tax and interest due thereon, together with a penalty of fifty percent of the tax due and the cost incurred in such proceedings, and pay the balance, if any, to the person in whose possession such soft drink syrups were found: Provided, That such seizure and sale shall not be deemed to relieve any person from fine or imprisonment provided herein for violation of any provision of this article. Such sale shall be made in the county where most convenient and economical. Notice of such sale shall be published as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the county wherein such seizure was made and the county wherein the sale is to take place. Notice shall be published at least five days prior to the sale. All moneys collected under the provisions of this section shall be paid into the State Treasury and treated as other taxes collected under this article.