§162.75. Seizures limited under section 592, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. — Inbound Citations

A passenger who makes any false or fraudulent statement or engages in other conduct within the purview of section 592, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1592), whereby a Customs officer is or may be induced to pass an article free of duty or at less than the proper amount of duty, or to treat an article in some other manner in order to obtain a benefit, shall be deemed to have violated 19 U.S.C. 1592. In any such case the article involved shall be seized only if one or more of the conditions set forth in section 162.75 of this chapter are present, if it is available for seizure at the time the violation is detected, and if such seizure is otherwise practicable, unless the article is in the possession of an innocent holder for value who has full right to possession as against any party to the Customs violation. If seizure is not made, an amount equivalent to the maximum penalty which may be assessed in accordance with the passenger's degree of culpability as provided in 19 U.S.C. 1592(c) shall be demanded from the passenger. The amount demanded in lieu of seizure shall be determined in accordance with the guidelines contained in the appendix to part 171 of this chapter. In all cases, the estimated duties shall be demanded of the passenger as soon as possible after the discovery of the violation. Any applicable internal revenue tax shall also be demanded unless the merchandise is to be, or has been, forfeited.

(a) Property may be seized, if available, by any Customs officer who has reasonable cause to believe that any law or regulation enforced by Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been violated, by reason of which the property has become subject to seizure or forfeiture. This paragraph does not authorize seizure when seizure or forfeiture is restricted by law or regulation (see, for example, § 162.75), nor does it authorize a remedy other than seizure when seizure or forfeiture is required by law or regulation. A receipt for seized property shall be given at the time of seizure to the person from whom the property is seized.

(d) If merchandise is imported, introduced or attempted to be introduced contrary to a provision of law governing its classification or value, and there is no issue of admissibility, such merchandise shall not be seized pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c). Any seizure of such merchandise shall be in accordance with section 1592 (see § 162.75 of this chapter).

(a) Section 613 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1613), provides for the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of property seized and forfeited under section 592, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1592), as provided for in § 162.75 of this part. Distribution shall be made in the following order:

(4) When proceeds are insufficient to pay these expenses fully, they shall be paid pro rata.

(6) Any sum due to satisfy a lien for freight, charges, or contributions in general average, provided notice of the lien has been given in the manner prescribed by law.

(7) The monetary penalty assessed under 19 U.S.C. 1592.

(8) The remaining proceeds, if any, shall be paid to the appropriate party-in-interest as provided in paragraph (b).