§ 549. Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seals

Statutory text

Whoever, without authority, affixes or attaches a customs seal, fastening, or mark, or any seal, fastening, or mark purporting to be a customs seal, fastening, or mark to any vessel, vehicle, warehouse, or package; or

Whoever, without authority, willfully removes, breaks, injures, or defaces any customs seal or other fastening or mark placed upon any vessel, vehicle, warehouse, or package containing merchandise or baggage in bond or in customs custody; or

Whoever maliciously enters any bonded warehouse or any vessel or vehicle laden with or containing bonded merchandise with intent unlawfully to remove therefrom any merchandise or baggage therein, or unlawfully removes any merchandise or baggage in such vessel, vehicle, or bonded warehouse or otherwise in customs custody or control; or

Whoever receives or transports any merchandise or baggage unlawfully removed from any such vessel, vehicle, or warehouse, knowing the same to have been unlawfully removed—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1948
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 549
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717
1994
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 title XXXIII § 330016(1)(K) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 549
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(K) in sections 35, 81, 112, 152, 153, 155, 212, 213, 214, 285, 334, 351, 435, 436, 438, 471, 472, 473, 476, 477, 478, 481, 485, 487, 488, 497, 498, 505, 506, 508, 509, 541, 542, 543, 544, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 592, 593, 602, 603, 606, 607, 642, 655, 658, 659, 660, 661, 663, 751, 799, 844, 872, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 914, 915, 924, 953, 954, 956, 1004, 1010, 1011, 1015, 1017, 1025, 1028, 1071, 1073, 1074, 1163, 1169, 1231, 1265, 1363, 1421, 1422, 1423, 1424, 1425, 1426, 1427, 1428, 1429, 1461, 1462, 1463, 1465, 1503, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1510, 1581, 1582, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1588, 1658, 1659, 1717, 1732, 1735, 1737, 1751, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1915, 1991, 2072, 2073, 2113, 2217, 2152, 2197, 2231, 2244, 2314, 2316, 2317, 2344, and 2701 by striking “not more than $5,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;
2006
Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America’s Seaports Act of 2005
Pub. L. 109–177 title III § 311(e) · 120 Stat. 192
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 549
Pub. L. 109–177 substituted “10 years” for “two years” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 109–177 substituted “10 years” for “two years” in last par.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(e) Removing Goods From Customs Custody.— Section 549 of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the 5th paragraph by striking “two years” and inserting “10 years”.

2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 1598 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 598, 46 Stat. 752; June 25, 1938, ch. 679, § 26, 52 Stat. 1089).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title.

In view of definition of felony in section 1 of this title words “guilty of a felony” were omitted. (See reviser’s note under section 550 of this title.)

The punishment prescribed by section 545 of this title was inserted to make this section complete without reference to another section. In doing so it was necessary to rephrase the punishment provision of section 545 of this title, as originally enacted, without change of substance.

Forfeiture provision was omitted to conform with current administrative practice.

Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1994–2006 · 2 rounds

2006

Pub. L. 109–177 substituted “10 years” for “two years” in last par.

1994

Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par.

Credits

1948–2006 · 3 acts

1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717
1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147
2006Pub. L. 109–177, title III, § 311(e), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 242.

Show as published

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 109–177, title III, § 311(e), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 242.)