---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1587"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1587"
heading: "Possession of slaves aboard vessel"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1587"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 77 — Peonage, Slavery, and Trafficking in Persons"
---

# §1587. Possession of slaves aboard vessel


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), being the captain, master, or commander of any vessel found in any river, port, bay, harbor, or on the high seas within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or hovering off the coast thereof, and having on board any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) for the purpose of selling such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) as a slave, or with intent to land such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) for such purpose, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(1)(B), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5255.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 426 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 251, 35 Stat. 1139).

Mandatory-punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.

Minor change was made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–392 substituted “10 years” for “four years”.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.