---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3271"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3271"
heading: "Trafficking in persons offenses committed by persons employed by or accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3271"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 212A — Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Over Certain Offenses"
---

# §3271. Trafficking in persons offenses committed by persons employed by or accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States

- (a) Whoever, while employed by or [accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States](/usc/18/3272.md?p=2), engages in conduct outside the United States that would constitute an [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2) under chapter [77](/usc/18/chptI/ch77.md) or [117](/usc/18/chptI/ch117.md) of this title if the conduct had been engaged in within the United States or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall be punished as provided for that [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2).
- (b) No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this section if a foreign government, in accordance with jurisdiction recognized by the United States, has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting such [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2), except upon the approval of the [Attorney General](/usc/18/3077.md?p=7) or the Deputy [Attorney General](/usc/18/3077.md?p=7) (or a person acting in either such capacity), which function of approval may not be delegated.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–164, title I, § 103(a)(1), Jan. 10, 2006, 119 Stat. 3562.)