Any officer or agent authorized by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or any state police officer or any police officer of any town shall have authority to execute any warrant to search for and seize any goods, merchandise or any threatened or endangered species possessed, sold or offered for sale in violation of § 26-311 or any property or item used in connection with a violation of said section. Such goods, merchandise, threatened or endangered species or property shall be held pending proceedings in any court of proper jurisdiction. Upon the conviction of any person charged with a violation of § 26-311, the goods, merchandise or threatened or endangered species seized in connection therewith under the provisions of this section shall be forfeited and retained by the commissioner or offered to a recognized institution for scientific or educational purposes, or destroyed. All costs incurred by the state shall be assessed against the violator.