---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1582"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1582"
heading: "Vessels for slave trade"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1582"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 77 — Peonage, Slavery, and Trafficking in Persons"
---

# §1582. Vessels for slave trade


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), whether as master, factor, or [owner](/usc/18/1839.md?p=4), builds, fits out, equips, loads, or otherwise prepares or sends away any vessel, in any port or place within the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or causes such vessel to sail from any such port or place, for the purpose of procuring any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) from any foreign kingdom or country to be transported and held, sold, or otherwise disposed of as a slave, or held to service or labor, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than seven years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 772; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 424 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 249, 35 Stat. 1139).

Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction of the United States”. See section 5 of this title defining “United States”.

Provision for division of the fine and its recovery by private person was omitted. (See reviser’s note under section 1585 of this title.)

Mandatory-punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.