---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 544"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "544"
heading: "Relanding of goods"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/544"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 27 — Customs"
---

# §544. Relanding of goods


If any merchandise entered or withdrawn for exportation without payment of the duties thereon, or with intent to obtain a drawback of the duties paid, or of any other allowances given by law on the exportation thereof, is relanded at any place in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) without entry having been made, such merchandise shall be considered as having been imported into the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) contrary to law, and each [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) concerned shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both; and such merchandise shall be forfeited.

The term “any place in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9)”, as used in this section, shall not include the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, or Guam.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 716; June 30, 1955, ch. 258, § 2(c), 69 Stat. 242; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330004(18), 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(23), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 1589 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 589, 46 Stat. 750).

The final paragraph was added to conform with section 1709 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 amended Pub. L. 103–322, § 330004(18). See 1994 Amendment note below.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in first par.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330004(18), as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(23), struck out “Philippine Islands,” before “Virgin Islands” in last par.

1955—Act June 30, 1955, inserted reference to Johnston Island in last par.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1955 Amendment

Amendment by act June 30, 1955, effective July 1, 1955, see section 2(d) of act June 30, 1955, set out as a note under section 1401 of Title 19, Customs Duties.