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18 U.S.C. § 545 — Smuggling goods into the United States

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 545 — Smuggling goods into the United States

Whoever knowingly and willfully, with intent to defraud the United States, smuggles, or clandestinely introduces or attempts to smuggle or clandestinely introduce into the United States any merchandise which should have been invoiced, or makes out or passes, or attempts to pass, through the customhouse any false, forged, or fraudulent invoice, or other document or paper; or

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_b5e4552c0e204a344b9c6e5d
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-18/section-545-smuggling-goods-into-the-united-states--dc3033c634.md
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Passage SHA-256: 46f5496596a217770bbb954b97b05be219880ca4f2c64f854470aeb2f4c63aef

Source location: Title 18, Chapter 27, § 545; chapter-027-customs.md

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Whoever knowingly and willfully, with intent to defraud the United States, smuggles, or clandestinely introduces or attempts to smuggle or clandestinely introduce into the United States any merchandise which should have been invoiced, or makes out or passes, or attempts to pass, through the customhouse any false, forged, or fraudulent invoice, or other document or paper; or

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 1 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 218(a)(1), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2027]

### Statutory Notes Section, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 684; Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–596, § 8, 98 Stat. 3138, classified offenses as a felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense. #### Effective Date of Repeal Repeal of section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of such repeal, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under [section 3551 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section3551&num=0&edition=prelim). #### Short Title of 2026 Amendment Pub. L. 119–73, § 1, Jan. 23, 2026, 139 Stat. 2003, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 28 and 3771A of this title, amending [section 7102 of Title 22](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section7102&num=0&edition=prelim), Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and enacting provisions set out as notes under [section 28 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section28&num=0&edition=prelim) and [section 10110 of Title 34](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title34-section10110&num=0&edition=prelim), Crime Control and Law Enforcement] may be cited as the ‘Trafficking Survivors Relief Act’.” #### Short Title of 2024 Amendment Pub. L. 118–78, § 1, July 30, 2024, 138 Stat. 1512, provided that: “This Act [enacting [section 1352 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1352&num=0&edition=prelim) and amending [section 201 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section201&num=0&edition=prelim)] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Extortion Prevention Technical Corrections Act’.” Pub. L. 118–77, § 1, July

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 2 — Principals

**(a)** Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. **(b)** Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

19 U.S.C. § 1401 — Miscellaneous

When used in this subtitle or in part I of subtitle II— **(a) Vessel** The word “vessel” includes every description of water craft or other contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation in water, but does not include aircraft. **(b) Vehicle** The word “vehicle” includes every description of carriage or other contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land, but does not include aircraft. **(c) Merchandise** The word “merchandise” means goods, wares, and chattels of every description, and includes merchandise the importation of which is prohibited, and monetary instruments as defined in [section 5312 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section5312&num=0&edition=prelim). **(d) Person** The word “person” includes partnerships, associations, and corporations. **(e) Master** The word “master” means the person having the command of the vessel. **(f) Day** The word “day” means the time from eight o’clock antemeridian to five o’clock postmeridian. **(g) Night** The word “night” means the time from five o’clock postmeridian to eight o’clock antemeridian. **(h) United States** The term “United States” includes all Territories and possessions of the United States except the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the island of Guam. **(i) Officer of the customs; customs officer** The terms “officer of the customs” and “customs officer” mean any officer of the United States Customs Service of the Treasury Department (also hereinafter referred to as the “Customs Service”) or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard, or any agent or other person, including foreign law enforcement officers, autho

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

19 U.S.C. § 1593 — Repealed. June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 21, 62 Stat. 862, eff. Sept. 1, 1948

### Statutory Notes Section, act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 593, 46 Stat. 751, related to smuggling and clandestine importations. See [section 545 of Title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section545&num=0&edition=prelim), Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 13 — Laws of States adopted for areas within Federal jurisdiction

**(a)** Whoever within or upon any of the places now existing or hereafter reserved or acquired as provided in [section 7 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section7&num=0&edition=prelim), or on, above, or below any portion of the territorial sea of the United States not within the jurisdiction of any State, Commonwealth, territory, possession, or district is guilty of any act or omission which, although not made punishable by any enactment of Congress, would be punishable if committed or omitted within the jurisdiction of the State, Territory, Possession, or District in which such place is situated, by the laws thereof in force at the time of such act or omission, shall be guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment. **(b)** (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and for purposes of subsection (a) of this section, that which may or shall be imposed through judicial or administrative action under the law of a State, territory, possession, or district, for a conviction for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol, shall be considered to be a punishment provided by that law. Any limitation on the right or privilege to operate a motor vehicle imposed under this subsection shall apply only to the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. (2) (A) In addition to any term of imprisonment provided for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol imposed under the law of a State, territory, possession, or district, the punishment for such an offense under this section shall include an additional term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or if serious bodily injury of a minor is caused, not more than 5 years, or if death of a minor is caused, no

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

19 U.S.C. § 1709 — Definitions

When used in this Act: **(a)** The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, includes all Territories and possessions of the United States, except the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the island of Guam. **(b)** The term “officer of the customs” means any officer of the Customs Service or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard, or agent or other person authorized by law or by the Secretary of the Treasury, or appointed in writing by a collector, to perform the duties of an officer of the Customs Service. **(c)** The term “customs waters” means, in the case of a foreign vessel subject to a treaty or other arrangement between a foreign government and the United States enabling or permitting the authorities of the United States to board, examine, search, seize, or otherwise to enforce upon such vessel upon the high seas the laws of the United States, the waters within such distance of the coast of the United States as the said authorities are or may be so enabled or permitted by such treaty or arrangement and, in the case of every other vessel, the waters within four leagues of the coast of the United States. **(d)** The term “hovering vessel” means any vessel which is found or kept off the coast of the United States within or without the customs waters, if, from the history, conduct, character, or location of the vessel, it is reasonable to believe that such vessel is being used or may be used to introduce or promote or facilitate the introduction or attempted introduction of merchandise into the United States in violation of the laws respecting the revenue.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 548 — Removing or repacking goods in warehouses

Whoever fraudulently conceals, removes, or repacks merchandise in any bonded warehouse or fraudulently alters, defaces or obliterates any marks or numbers placed upon packages deposited in such warehouse, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

18 U.S.C. § 549 — Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seals

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

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

19 U.S.C. § 1654 — Short title

This chapter may be cited as the “Tariff Act of 1930.”

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 967 — Smuggling of controlled substances; investigations; oaths; subpenas; witnesses; evidence; production of records; territorial limits; fees and mileage of witnesses

For the purpose of any investigation which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, is necessary and proper to the enforcement of [section 545 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section545&num=0&edition=prelim) (relating to smuggling goods into the United States) with respect to any controlled substance (as defined in [section 802 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section802&num=0&edition=prelim)), the Secretary of the Treasury may administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of records (including books, papers, documents and tangible things which constitute or contain evidence) relevant or material to the investigation. The attendance of witnesses and the production of records may be required from any place within the customs territory of the United States, except that a witness shall not be required to appear at any hearing distant more than 100 miles from the place where he was served with subpena. Witnesses summoned by the Secretary shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. Oaths and affirmations may be made at any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

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