| Yes, that's called in rem jurisdiction (power over objects) and the resulting cases can sound very comical United States v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels, More or Less, Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania United States v. 11 1/4 Dozen Packages of Articles Labeled in Part Mrs. Moffat’s Shoo-Fly Powders for Drunkenness Marcus v. Search Warrant of Property at 104 East Tenth Street, Kansas City, Missouri United States v. Article Consisting of 50,000 Cardboard Boxes More or Less, Each Containing One Pair of Clacker Balls United States v. One Lucite Ball Containing Lunar Material (One Moon Rock) and One Ten Inch by Fourteen Inch Wooden Plaque |
Where did "power over objects" come from? Going strictly by the Latin, in rem means "into the thing" ("into" here marks that the thing is being attacked). "Thing" and "object" are basically synonymous, sure, but power is not mentioned at all.