---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3375"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3375"
heading: "Enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3375"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Control of Illegally Taken Fish and Wildlife"
---

# §3375. Enforcement

- (a) **In general—** The provisions of this chapter and any regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be enforced by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) of Transportation, or the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) of the Treasury. Such [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) may utilize by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal agency or any [State](/usc/16/3371.md?p=j) agency or Indian tribe for purposes of enforcing this chapter.
- (b) **Powers—** Any [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) authorized under [subsection (a)](#a) to enforce this chapter may carry firearms; may, when enforcing this chapter, make an arrest without a warrant, in accordance with any guidelines which may be issued by the Attorney General, for any offense under the laws of the United States committed in the [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f)’s presence, or for the [commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) of any felony under the laws of the United States, if the [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) has reasonable grounds to believe that the [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony; may search and seize, with or without a warrant, in accordance with any guidelines which may be issued by the Attorney General;[^1] Provided, That an arrest for a felony [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter that is not committed in the presence or view of any such [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) and that involves only the transportation, [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), receipt, purchase, or sale of [fish or wildlife](/usc/16/3371.md?p=b) or [plants](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1) [taken](/usc/16/3371.md?p=k-1) or possessed in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of any law or regulation of any [State](/usc/16/3371.md?p=j) shall require a warrant; may make an arrest without a warrant for a misdemeanor [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) to be arrested is committing a [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) in his presence or view; and may execute and serve any subpena, arrest warrant, search warrant issued in accordance with [rule 41](/usc/16/41.md) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, or other warrant of civil or criminal process issued by any officer or court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of this chapter. Any [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) so authorized, in coordination with the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) of the Treasury, may detain for inspection and inspect any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other conveyance or any package, crate, or other container, including its contents, upon the arrival of such conveyance or container in the United States or the customs waters of the United States from any point outside the United States or such customs waters, or, if such conveyance or container is being used for exportation purposes, prior to departure from the United States or the customs waters of the United States. Such [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) may also inspect and demand the production of any documents and permits required by the country of natal origin, birth, or reexport of the [fish or wildlife](/usc/16/3371.md?p=b). Any fish, wildlife, [plant](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1), property, or item seized shall be held by any [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) pending disposition of civil or criminal proceedings, or the institution of an action in rem for forfeiture of such fish, wildlife, [plants](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1), property, or item pursuant to [section 3374 of this title](/usc/16/3374.md); except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) may, in lieu of holding such fish, wildlife, [plant](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1), property, or item, permit the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) or consignee to post a bond or other surety satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i).
- (c) **Jurisdiction of district courts—** The several district courts of the United States, including the courts enumerated in [section 460 of title 28](/usc/28/460.md), shall have jurisdiction over any actions arising under this chapter. The venue provisions of [title 18](/usc/18.md) and [title 28](/usc/28.md) shall apply to any actions arising under this chapter. The judges of the district courts of the United States and the United States magistrate judges may, within their respective jurisdictions, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue such warrants or other process as may be required for enforcement of this chapter and any regulations issued thereunder.
- (d) **Rewards and certain incidental expenses—** Beginning in fiscal year 1983, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) of the Treasury shall pay, from sums received as penalties, fines, or forfeitures of property for any [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter or any regulation issued hereunder (1) a reward to any [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) who furnishes information which leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for any [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter or any regulation issued hereunder, and (2) the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by any [person](/usc/16/3371.md?p=f) in providing temporary care for any fish, wildlife, or [plant](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1) pending the disposition of any civil or criminal proceeding alleging a [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this chapter with respect to that fish, wildlife, or [plant](/usc/16/3371.md?p=g-1). The amount of the reward, if any, is to be designated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) or the [Secretary](/usc/16/3371.md?p=i) of the Treasury, as appropriate. Any officer or employee of the United States or any [State](/usc/16/3371.md?p=j) or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his official duties is ineligible for payment under this subsection.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The semicolon probably should be a colon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 6, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1077; Pub. L. 98–327, § 4, June 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 271; Pub. L. 100–653, title I, § 104, Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3826; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 97–79, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1073, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3371 of this title and Tables.

Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–653 substituted “may, when enforcing this chapter, make an arrest without a warrant, in accordance with any guidelines which may be issued by the Attorney General, for any offense under the laws of the United States committed in the person’s presence, or for the commission of any felony under the laws of the United States, if the person has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony; may search and seize, with or without a warrant, in accordance with any guidelines which may be issued by the Attorney General;” for “may make an arrest without a warrant for any felony violation of this chapter if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such violation:”.

1984—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–327, in first sentence, substituted a comma for “a reward” after “shall pay”, inserted “(1) a reward” before “to any person”, and added cl. (2).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States magistrate judges” substituted for “United States magistrates” in subsec. (c) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to agricultural import and entry inspection activities under this chapter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 231, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.