Section 20. Upon complaint of a person who has complied with section seventeen, or his agent, to a district court, that he has reason to believe and does believe that any of his registered vessels are being unlawfully used or filled by a person engaged in manufacturing, bottling or selling beverages, or that a junk dealer or dealer in second hand articles or a vendor of cans or bottles has such vessels in his possession or secreted in any place, said court may thereupon issue a search warrant; and may also cause the person in whose possession such vessels are found to be brought before him, and shall thereupon inquire into the circumstances of such possession; and shall award to the owner thereof possession of the property taken upon such search warrant.