Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, forfeited property shall be retained for official use, sold, or otherwise disposed of by: the Comptroller or the Executive Director, as appropriate, if the property was seized by State officers; or if the property was not seized by State officers: the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City; or the board of county commissioners or the county council of the county in which the property was seized. The Comptroller, the Executive Director, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, or the board of county commissioners or county council in the county where the property was seized shall retain or dispose of the property in the way it considers to be in the best public interest. Illicit alcoholic beverages shall be destroyed and may not be returned or given to any person or disposed of in any other manner.