---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1651"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1651"
heading: "Piracy under law of nations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1651"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 81 — Piracy and Privateering"
---

# §1651. Piracy under law of nations


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), on the high seas, commits the crime of piracy as defined by the law of nations, and is afterwards brought into or found in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), shall be imprisoned for life.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 481 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 290, 35 Stat. 1145).