Such employes of the department as are officially designated by the Secretary of Revenue as field investigators of the bureau, and who carry identification of such capacity, are hereby declared to be peace officers and they, as well as other peace officers of the Commonwealth are hereby given police powers and authority throughout the Commonwealth to arrest on view, except in private homes, without warrant, any person actually engaged in the unlawful sale of unstamped or counterfeit cigarettes or any counterfeit devices, or any person unlawfully having in his possession unstamped cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes or counterfeiting devices contrary to the provisions of this article. Such peace officer shall have the power and authority upon reasonable and probable cause to search for and seize without warrant or process, except in private homes, any unstamped cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes or counterfeiting devices which are unlawfully possessed.