19 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1619

§1602. Seizure; report to customs officer

19 U.S.C. § 1602

It shall be the duty of any officer, agent, or other person authorized by law to make seizures of merchandise or baggage subject to seizure for violation of the customs laws, to report every such seizure immediately to the appropriate customs officer for the district in which such violation occurred, and to turn over and deliver to such customs officer any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized by him, and to report immediately to such customs officer every violation of the customs laws.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 602, 46 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(z), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 290; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2984.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 602, 42 Stat. 984. That section was superseded by section 602 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Prior provisions requiring officers or persons employed in the customs revenue service, upon detection of any violation of the customs laws, to make complaint to the collector, were contained in act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, § 15, 18 Stat. 189, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 643, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted references to appropriate customs officer or such customs officer for references to collector wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1603. Seizure; warrants and reports

19 U.S.C. § 1603

(a)

Any property which is subject to forfeiture to the United States for violation of the customs laws and which is not subject to search and seizure in accordance with the provisions of section 1595 of this title, may be seized by the appropriate officer or person upon process issued in the same manner as provided for a search warrant under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. This authority is in addition to any seizure authority otherwise provided by law.

(b)

Whenever a seizure of merchandise for violation of the customs laws is made, or a violation of the customs laws is discovered, and legal proceedings by the United States attorney in connection with such seizure or discovery are required, it shall be the duty of the appropriate customs officer to report promptly such seizure or violation to the United States attorney for the district in which such violation has occurred, or in which such seizure was made, and to include in such report a statement of all the facts and circumstances of the case within his knowledge, with the names of the witnesses and a citation to the statute or statutes believed to have been violated, and on which reliance may be had for forfeiture or conviction.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 603, 46 Stat. 754; June 25, 1938, ch. 679, § 27, 52 Stat. 1089; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(aa), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 110(b), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 896; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7365, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4478.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in subsec. (a), are set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 603, 42 Stat. 984. That section was superseded by section 603 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

A prior provision requiring the collector or other person causing a seizure to be made to give information thereof to the Solicitor of the Treasury, was contained in R.S. § 3083, as amended by act Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, § 1, 19 Stat. 247. R.S. § 3084 required collectors to report to the district attorney of the district in which any fine, penalty, or forfeiture might be incurred, a statement of all the facts and circumstances. Officers of customs detecting violations of the customs laws were required to report to the collectors, and the latter were required to report to the district attorneys, by act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, § 15, 18 Stat. 189. All of these sections were repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, §§ 642, 643, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690, § 7365, substituted “Seizure; warrants and reports” for “Seizure; customs officer’s reports” in section catchline, added subsec. (a), and designated existing provisions as subsec. (b).

1978—Pub. L. 95–410 inserted “promptly” after “to report”.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector or principal local officer of Customs Agency Service.

1938—Act June 25, 1938, amended section generally.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Effective Date of 1938 Amendment

Amendment by act June 25, 1938, effective on thirtieth day following June 25, 1938, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 37 of act June 25, 1938, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions of all other officers of Department of the Treasury and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, 1281, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Customs Service was under Department of the Treasury.

§1604. Seizure; prosecution [1](#fn)

19 U.S.C. § 1604

It shall be the duty of the Attorney General of the United States immediately to inquire into the facts of cases reported to him by customs officers and the laws applicable thereto, and if it appears probable that any fine, penalty, or forfeiture has been incurred by reason of such¹ violation, for the recovery of which the institution of proceedings in the United States district court or the Court of International Trade is necessary, forthwith to cause the proper proceedings to be commenced and prosecuted, without delay, for the recovery of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture in such case provided, unless, upon inquiry and examination, the Attorney General decides that such proceedings can not probably be sustained or that the ends of public justice do not require that they should be instituted or prosecuted, in which case he shall report the facts to the Secretary of the Treasury for his direction in the premises.

Footnotes

1 See Codification note below.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 604, 46 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(bb), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 96–417, title VI, § 610, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1746.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

As enacted by act June 17, 1930, the catchline for this section was “Same—prosecution”, as this section was intended to be read as a continuation of the provisions introduced in sections 1602 and 1603 of this title. The use of “such” in text is meant to refer back to section 1603 of this title.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 604, 42 Stat. 984. That section was superseded by section 604 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Prior provisions substantially similar in effect, with a further provision for an allowance for expenses and services, were contained in R.S. § 3085. Provisions requiring district attorneys to cause investigations to be made before a United States commissioner and to initiate and prosecute proper proceedings to recover fines and penalties were contained in act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, § 15, 18 Stat. 189. Both of these sections were repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, §§ 642, 643, 42 Stat. 989.

The 1922 act also superseded a provision contained in R.S. § 3087, requiring collectors to cause suits to be commenced without delay and prosecuted to effect.

Amendments

1980—Pub. L. 96–417 substituted “the Attorney General of the United States” and “the Attorney General” for “every United States district attorney” and “such district attorney”, respectively, and authorized institution of proceedings in the Court of International Trade.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to customs officers for reference to collectors.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96–417, set out as a note under section 251 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1605. Seizure; custody; storage

19 U.S.C. § 1605

All vessels, vehicles, aircraft, merchandise, and baggage seized under the provisions of the customs laws, or laws relating to the navigation, registering, enrolling or licensing, or entry or clearance, of vessels, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be placed and remain in the custody of the appropriate customs officer for the district in which the seizure was made to await disposition according to law.

Pending such disposition, the property shall be stored in such place as, in the customs officer’s opinion, is most convenient and appropriate with due regard to the expense involved, whether or not the place of storage is within the judicial district or the customs collection district in which the property was seized; and storage of the property outside the judicial district or customs collection district in which it was seized shall in no way affect the jurisdiction of the court which would otherwise have jurisdiction over such property.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 605, 46 Stat. 754; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 505, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(cc), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(2), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2984.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 605, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 605 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions substantially similar to those in this section so far as it relates to merchandise or property seized under the customs laws, were contained in R.S. § 3086, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft in first par.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted references to appropriate customs officer or customs officer for references to collector wherever appearing.

1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, permitted collector of seized property to store it in such places as he considers convenient or appropriate, whether within or without the judicial district in which it was seized, without affecting the jurisdiction of the court over such property.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1606. Seizure; appraisement

19 U.S.C. § 1606

The appropriate customs officer shall determine the domestic value, at the time and place of appraisement, of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the customs laws.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 606, 46 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(dd), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(3), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2984.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 606, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 606 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Prior provisions for appraisement of property seized under the customs laws, or laws relating to the registering, enrolling or licensing of vessels, were contained in R.S. § 3074, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted “appropriate customs officer shall” for “collector shall require the appraiser to”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1607. Seizure; value $500,000 or less, prohibited merchandise, transporting conveyances

19 U.S.C. § 1607

(a)

Notice of seizure— If—

(1)

the value of such seized vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage does not exceed $500,000;

(2)

such seized merchandise is merchandise the importation of which is prohibited;

(3)

such seized vessel, vehicle, or aircraft was used to import, export, transport, or store any controlled substance or listed chemical; or

(4)

such seized merchandise is any monetary instrument within the meaning of section 5312(a)(3) of title 31;

the appropriate customs officer shall cause a notice of the seizure of such articles and the intention to forfeit and sell or otherwise dispose of the same according to law to be published for at least three successive weeks in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct. Written notice of seizure together with information on the applicable procedures shall be sent to each party who appears to have an interest in the seized article.

(b)

“Controlled substance” and “listed chemical” defined— As used in this section, the terms “controlled substance” and “listed chemical” have the meaning given such terms in section 802 of title 21.

(c)

Report to Congress— The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall submit to the Congress, by no later than February 1 of each fiscal year, a report on the total dollar value of uncontested seizures of monetary instruments having a value of over $100,000 which, or the proceeds of which, have not been deposited into the Customs Forfeiture Fund under section 1613b of this title within 120 days of seizure, as of the end of the previous fiscal year.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 607, 46 Stat. 754; June 25, 1938, ch. 679, § 28(a), 52 Stat. 1089; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 506, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(ee), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 111(a), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 897; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 311, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2053; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(4), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2984; Pub. L. 101–382, title I, § 122, Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 104–237, title II, § 201(c), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3101; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 607, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 607 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Prior provisions for publication or posting of notice of seizure, requiring claimants to appear and file their claim, when the appraised value did not exceed $500, were contained in R.S. § 3075, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–237, § 201(c)(1), inserted “or listed chemical” after “controlled substance”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–237, § 201(c)(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “As used in this section, the term ‘controlled substance’ has the meaning given that term in section 802 of title 21.”

1990—Pub. L. 101–382, § 122(6), substituted “$500,000” for “$100,000” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–382, § 122(1), substituted “$500,000” for “$100,000”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 101–382, § 122(2)–(4), added par. (4).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–382, § 122(5), added subsec. (c).

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 amended section generally. See explanation below for amendment by Pub. L. 98–473.

Pub. L. 98–473 amended section generally in manner substantially identical to amendment by Pub. L. 98–573, on which text of section is based. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “If such value of such vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage does not exceed $10,000, the appropriate customs officer shall cause a notice of the seizure of such articles and the intention to forfeit and sell or otherwise dispose of the same according to law to be published for at least three successive weeks in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct. For the purposes of this section and sections 1610 and 1612 of this title merchandise the importation of which is prohibited shall be held not to exceed $10,000 in value.”

1978—Pub. L. 95–410 substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” wherever appearing.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector, and struck out reference to appraiser’s return of value.

1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000” wherever appearing.

1938—Act June 25, 1938, substituted “forfeit and sell or otherwise dispose of the same according to law” for “forfeit and sell the same”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in subsec. (c) on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Effective Date of 1938 Amendment

Amendment by act June 25, 1938, effective on thirtieth day following June 25, 1938, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 37 of act June 25, 1938, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

§1608. Seizure; claims; judicial condemnation

19 U.S.C. § 1608

Any person claiming such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage may at any time within twenty days from the date of the first publication of the notice of seizure file with the appropriate customs officer a claim stating his interest therein. Upon the filing of such claim, and the giving of a bond to the United States in the penal sum of $5,000 or 10 percent of the value of the claimed property, whichever is lower, but not less than $250, with sureties to be approved by such customs officer, conditioned that in case of condemnation of the articles so claimed the obligor shall pay all the costs and expenses of the proceedings to obtain such condemnation, such customs officer shall transmit such claim and bond, with a duplicate list and description of the articles seized, to the United States attorney for the district in which seizure was made, who shall proceed to a condemnation of the merchandise or other property in the manner prescribed by law.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 608, 46 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(e), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 288; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 312, 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054, 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(5), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1862, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–54; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(c)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4479.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in R.S. § 3076, which was superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 608, 42 Stat. 985, and was repealed by section 642 thereof. Section 608 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 608 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 reenacted section without change. See 1984 and 1986 Amendment notes below.

1986—Pub. L. 99–570, § 1862(a), substituted “$5,000” for “$2,500”. See 1984 Amendment notes below.

Pub. L. 99–570, § 1862(b), which provided that “Section 608 of such Act [this section], as enacted by Public Law 98–473, is repealed”, was not executed to text because such section was amended (rather than enacted) by Pub. L. 98–473, and to reflect the probable intent of Congress to repeal the amendment made by Pub. L. 98–473 in view of later amendment by Pub. L. 98–573. See 1984 Amendment notes below.

1984—Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(5)(B), which directed the insertion of “$2,500 or 10 percent of the value of the claimed property, whichever is lower, but not less than” after “penal sum of”, was executed to text as superseding the amendment made by Pub. L. 98–473 to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 1986 Amendment note above.

Pub. L. 98–473, § 312, inserted “$5,000 or 10 per centum of the value of the claimed property, whichever is lower, but not less than,” after “penal sum of”. See 1984 and 1986 Amendment notes above.

Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(5)(A), and Pub. L. 98–473, § 321, inserted reference to aircraft.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted references to appropriate customs officer or such customs officer for references to collector wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1609. Seizure; summary forfeiture and sale

19 U.S.C. § 1609

(a)

In general— If no such claim is filed or bond given within the twenty days hereinbefore specified, the appropriate customs officer shall declare the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage forfeited, and shall sell the same at public auction in the same manner as merchandise abandoned to the United States is sold or otherwise dispose of the same according to law, and shall deposit the proceeds of sale, after deducting the expenses described in section 1613 of this title, into the Customs Forfeiture Fund.

(b)

Effect— A declaration of forfeiture under this section shall have the same force and effect as a final decree and order of forfeiture in a judicial forfeiture proceeding in a district court of the United States. Title shall be deemed to vest in the United States free and clear of any liens or encumbrances (except for first preferred ship mortgages pursuant to subsection O of section 30 of the Ship Mortgage Act, 1920 (46 U.S.C. App. 961) or any corresponding revision, consolidation, and enactment of such subsection in title 46) from the date of the act for which the forfeiture was incurred. Officials of the various States, insular possessions, territories, and commonwealths of the United States shall, upon application of the appropriate customs officer accompanied by a certified copy of the declaration of forfeiture, remove any recorded liens or encumbrances which apply to such property and issue or reissue the necessary certificates of title, registration certificates, or similar documents to the United States or to any transferee of the United States.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 609, 46 Stat. 755; June 25, 1938, ch. 679, § 28(b), 52 Stat. 1089; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(b), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 313, 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054, 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(6), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4479.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Subsection O of section 30 of the Ship Mortgage Act, 1920 (46 U.S.C. App. 961), referred to in subsec. (b), was classified to section 961 of the former Appendix to Title 46, Shipping, and was repealed and partially reenacted in sections 31326(a), 31327, 31328, and 31329 of Title 46, Shipping, by Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §§ 102(c), 106(b)(2), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4738, 4752. Section 31328 of Title 46 was subsequently repealed by Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, § 1113(b)(1), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3970. Section 105(a) of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note preceding section 101 of Title 46, provides that a reference to a law replaced by section 102 of Pub. L. 100–710 is deemed to refer to the corresponding provision of Pub. L. 100–710. For disposition of sections of the former Appendix to Title 46, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 46.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 609, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 609 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions for sale of the property by the collector if no claim should be filed or bond given, were contained in R.S. § 3077, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows:

“(a) If no such claim is filed or bond given within the twenty days hereinbefore specified, the appropriate customs officer shall declare the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage forfeited, and shall sell the same at public auction in the same manner as merchandise abandoned to the United States is sold or otherwise dispose of the same according to law, and (except as provided in subsection (b) of this section) shall deposit the proceeds of sale, after deducting expenses enumerated in section 1613 of this title into the Customs Forfeiture Fund.

“(b) During the period beginning on October 30, 1984, and ending on September 30, 1987, the appropriate customs officer shall deposit the proceeds of sale (after deducting such expenses) in the Customs Forfeiture Fund.”

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted reference to aircraft, inserted “(except as provided in subsection (b) of this section)” after “according to law, and”, and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 98–473, § 321, inserted reference to aircraft.

Pub. L. 98–473, § 313, substituted “after deducting expenses enumerated in section 1613 of this title into the Customs Forfeiture Fund” for “after deducting the actual expenses of seizure, publication, and sale in the Treasury of the United States”.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.

1938—Act June 25, 1938, inserted “or otherwise dispose of the same according to law” after “in the same manner as merchandise abandoned to the United States is sold”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Effective Date of 1938 Amendment

Amendment by act June 25, 1938, effective on thirtieth day following June 25, 1938, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 37 of act June 25, 1938, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.

§1610. Seizure; judicial forfeiture proceedings

19 U.S.C. § 1610

If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title, the appropriate customs officer shall transmit a report of the case, with the names of available witnesses, to the United States attorney for the district in which the seizure was made for the institution of the proper proceedings for the condemnation of such property.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 610, 46 Stat. 755; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 506, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(ee), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 111(b), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 314, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(7), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(c)(3), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4480.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 610, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 610 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 reenacted section without change.

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 substituted “If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title” for “If the value of any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage so seized is greater than $10,000”.

Pub. L. 98–473 amended section in manner substantially identical to amendment by Pub. L. 98–573.

1978—Pub. L. 95–410 substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” wherever appearing.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector, and struck out reference to appraiser’s return of value.

1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

§1611. Seizure; sale unlawful

19 U.S.C. § 1611

If the sale of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage forfeited under the customs laws in the district in which seizure thereof was made be prohibited by the laws of the State in which such district is located, or if a sale may be made more advantageously in any other district, the Secretary of the Treasury may order such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage to be transferred for sale in any customs district in which the sale thereof may be permitted. Upon the request of the Secretary of the Treasury, any court may, in proceedings for the forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage under the customs laws, provide in its decree of forfeiture that the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage, so forfeited, shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury for disposition in accordance with the provisions of this section. If the Secretary of the Treasury is satisfied that the proceeds of any sale will not be sufficient to pay the costs thereof, he may order a destruction by the customs officers: Provided, That any merchandise forfeited under the customs laws, the sale or use of which is prohibited under any law of the United States or of any State, may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, be destroyed, or remanufactured into an article that is not prohibited, the resulting article to be disposed of to the profit of the United States only.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 611, 46 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(8), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 611, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 611 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft in four places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

§1612. Seizure; summary sale

19 U.S.C. § 1612

(a)

Whenever it appears to the Customs Service that any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the customs laws is liable to perish or to waste or to be greatly reduced in value by keeping, or that the expense of keeping the same is disproportionate to the value thereof, and such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is subject to section 1607 of this title, and such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage has not been delivered under bond, the Customs Service shall proceed forthwith to advertise and sell the same at auction under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. If such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title, the Customs Service shall forthwith transmit its report of the seizure to the United States attorney, who shall petition the court to order an immediate sale of such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage, and if the ends of justice require it the court shall order such immediate sale, the proceeds thereof to be deposited with the court to await the final determination of the condemnation proceedings. Whether such sale be made by the Customs Service or by order of the court, the proceeds thereof shall be held subject to claims of parties in interest to the same extent as the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage so sold would have been subject to such claim.

(b)

If the Customs Service determines that the expense of keeping the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is disproportionate to the value thereof, the Customs Service may promptly order the destruction or other appropriate disposition of such property under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. No customs officer shall be liable for the destruction or other disposition of property made pursuant to this section.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 612, 46 Stat. 755; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 506, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(ff), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 111(c), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 315, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(9), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(c)(4), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4480; Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, § 667, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2215.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 612, 42 Stat. 986. That section was superseded by section 612 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions concerning the sale of property liable to perish or waste, etc., were contained in R.S. § 3080, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–182, § 667(1), substituted “the Customs Service” for “the appropriate customs officer” after “Whenever it appears to”, for “such officer” after “delivered under bond,”, for “such officer” before “shall forthwith transmit” and for “the customs officer” after “Whether such sale be made by” and substituted “its report of the seizure” for “the appraiser’s return and his report of the seizure”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–182, § 667(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “If the expense of keeping the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is disproportionate to the value thereof, and such value is less than $1,000, such officer may proceed forthwith to order destruction or other appropriate disposition of such property, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.”

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 reenacted section substantially without change.

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–573 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted reference to aircraft in six places and substituted “the value thereof, and such vessel” for “the value thereof, and the value of such vessel”, “is subject to section 1607 of this title” for “as determined under section 1606 of this title, does not exceed $10,000”, “If such vessel” for “If such value of such vessel”, and “baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title,” for “baggage exceeds $10,000”, and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 98–473 amended section in manner substantially identical to amendment by Pub. L. 98–573, but did not add a subsec. (b) or provisions similar thereto.

1978—Pub. L. 95–410 substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” wherever appearing.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted references to appropriate customs officer or such officer for references to collector wherever appearing therein, and struck out references to appraiser and appraiser’s return of value.

1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted “United States attorney” for “United States district attorney”. See section 541 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and Historical and Revision Note thereunder.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

§1613. Disposition of proceeds of forfeited property

19 U.S.C. § 1613

(a)

Application for remission of forfeiture and restoration of proceeds of sale; disposition of proceeds when no application has been made— Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person claiming any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage, or any interest therein, which has been forfeited and sold under the provisions of this chapter, may at any time within three months after the date of sale apply to the Secretary of the Treasury if the forfeiture and sale was under the customs laws, or to the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as the case may be, if the forfeiture and sale was under the navigation laws, for a remission of the forfeiture and restoration of the proceeds of such sale, or such part thereof as may be claimed by him. Upon the production of satisfactory proof that the applicant did not know of the seizure prior to the declaration or condemnation of forfeiture, and was in such circumstances as prevented him from knowing of the same, and that such forfeiture was incurred without any willful negligence or intention to defraud on the part of the applicant, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may order the proceeds of the sale, or any part thereof, restored to the applicant, after deducting the cost of seizure and of sale, the duties, if any, accruing on the merchandise or baggage, and any sum due on a lien for freight, charges, or contribution in general average that may have been filed. If no application for such remission or restoration is made within three months after such sale, or if the application be denied by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the proceeds of sale shall be disposed of as follows:

(1)

For the payment of all proper expenses of the proceedings of forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintaining the custody of the property, advertising and sale, and if condemned by a decree of a district court and a bond for such costs was not given, the costs as taxed by the court;

(2)

For the satisfaction of liens for freight, charges, and contributions in general average, notice of which has been filed with the appropriate customs officer according to law; and

(3)

The residue shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States.¹

(b)

Disposition of proceeds in excess of penalty assessed under section 1592— If merchandise is forfeited under section 1592 of this title, any proceeds from the sale thereof in excess of the monetary penalty finally assessed thereunder and the expenses and costs described in subsection (a)(1) and (2) of this section or subsection (a)(1), (a)(3), or (a)(4) of section 1613b of this title incurred in such sale shall be returned to the person against whom the penalty was assessed.

(c)

Treatment of deposits— If property is seized by the Secretary under law enforced or administered by the Customs Service, or otherwise acquired under section 1605 of this title, and relief from the forfeiture is granted by the Secretary, or his designee, upon terms requiring the deposit or retention of a monetary amount in lieu of the forfeiture, the amount recovered shall be treated in the same manner as the proceeds of sale of a forfeited item.

(d)

Expenses— In any judicial or administrative proceeding to forfeit property under any law enforced or administered by the Customs Service or the Coast Guard, the seizure, storage, and other expenses related to the forfeiture that are incurred by the Customs Service or the Coast Guard after the seizure, but before the institution of, or during, the proceedings, shall be a priority claim in the same manner as the court costs and the expenses of the Federal marshal.

Footnotes

1 See 1984 Amendment note below.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 613, 46 Stat. 756; June 25, 1938, ch. 679, § 29, 52 Stat. 1089; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(b), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 110(c), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 896; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 316, 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054, 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(10), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2986; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3124, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–88; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 613, 42 Stat. 986. That section was superseded by section 613 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions authorizing applications to the Secretary of the Treasury for remission of forfeitures and restoration of the proceeds of sales, and provisions substantially the same as those in this section concerning the granting of such applications, were contained in R.S. § 3078. R.S. § 3079 provided that if no application was made within three months the proceeds should be distributed in the same manner as if the property had been condemned and sold under a decree of court. R.S. § 3090, as amended by act Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, § 1, 19 Stat. 248, also specified how the proceeds of fines, penalties, and forfeitures incurred under customs laws, should be applied and distributed. All these sections were repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1986—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 99–570 added subsecs. (c) and (d).

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(10)(A), and Pub. L. 98–473, § 321, inserted reference to aircraft in provisions preceding par. (1).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(10)(B), substituted “in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States” for “with the Treasurer of the United States as a customs or navigation fine”.

Pub. L. 98–473, § 316, which directed the substitution of “The residue shall be deposited in the Customs Forfeiture Fund” for “The residue shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States as a customs or navigation fine” was not executed to text in view of the later amendment by section 213(a)(10)(B) of Pub. L. 98–573.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(10)(C), inserted “or subsection (a)(1), (a)(3), or (a)(4) of section 1613b of this title”.

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–410, § 110(c)(1), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and substituted “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any” for “Any”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–410, § 110(c)(2), added subsec. (b).

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.

1938—Act June 25, 1938, inserted “and” at end of subd. (2), struck out subd. (3), and redesignated subd. (4) as (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” wherever appearing in subsec. (a) on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Effective Date of 1938 Amendment

Amendment by act June 25, 1938, effective on thirtieth day following June 25, 1938, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 37 of act June 25, 1938, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transportation, and functions, powers, and duties relating to Coast Guard of Secretary of the Treasury and of other officers and offices of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(b)(1), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938. Section 6(b)(2) of Pub. L. 89–670, however, provided that notwithstanding such transfer of functions, Coast Guard shall operate as part of Navy in time of war or when President directs as provided in former section 3 (now 103) of Title 14. See section 108 of Title 49, Transportation.

Appropriations

Act June 26, 1934, ch. 756, § 2, 48 Stat. 1225, which was classified to section 725a of former Title 31, Money and Finance, repealed the permanent appropriation under the title “Proceeds of goods seized and sold (Customs) (2x322)” effective July 1, 1935, and provided that such portions of any Acts as make permanent appropriations to be expended under such account are amended so as to authorize, in lieu thereof, annual appropriations from the general fund of the Treasury in identical terms and in such amounts as now provided by the laws providing such permanent appropriations.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Treasury, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, 1281, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Commissioner of Customs, referred to in text, was an officer in Department of the Treasury. Functions of Coast Guard and Commandant of Coast Guard excepted from transfer when Coast Guard is operating as part of Navy under former sections 1 and 3 (now 101 and 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard.

By Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, functions of Secretary of Commerce relating to remission and mitigation of fines, penalties and forfeitures incurred for violation of navigation laws were transferred to Commandant of Coast Guard and Commissioner of Customs, subject to direction and control of Secretary of the Treasury, except as otherwise required by law with respect to United States Coast Guard whenever it operates as a part of Navy. Accordingly, references to Commandant of Coast Guard and Commissioner of Customs substituted in text for “the Secretary of Commerce”.

[§1613a. Repealed. Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1888(7), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2925 — repealed]

19 U.S.C. § 1613a

Notes, amendments, and revision history

Section, act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 613a, as added and amended Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 317, 2304, 98 Stat. 2054, 2193; Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1152(b)(1), 100 Stat. 3207–12; July 11, 1987, Pub. L. 100–71, title I, § 101, 101 Stat. 438, related to establishment, purpose, etc. of the Customs Forfeiture Fund. See section 1613b of this title.

Section 1152(b)(1) of Pub. L. 99–570, which amended this section subsequently to repeal by Pub. L. 99–514, was repealed by section 101 of Pub. L. 100–71, which also provided in part that section 1152(b) of Pub. L. 99–570 be treated as though it had never been enacted.

§1613b. Customs Forfeiture Fund

19 U.S.C. § 1613b

(a)

In general—

(1)

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the “Customs Forfeiture Fund” (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Fund”), which shall be available to the United States Customs Service, subject to appropriation, with respect to seizures and forfeitures by the United States Customs Service and the United States Coast Guard under any law enforced or administered by those agencies for payment, or for reimbursement to the appropriation from which payment was made, for—

(A)

all proper expenses of the seizure (including investigative costs incurred by the United States Customs Service leading to seizures) or the proceedings of forfeiture and sale, including, but not limited to, the expenses of inventory, security, and maintenance of custody of the property, advertisement and sale of the property, and if condemned by the court and a bond for such costs was not given, the costs as taxed by the court;

(B)

awards of compensation to informers under section 1619 of this title;

(C)

satisfaction of—

(i)

liens for freight, charges, and contributions in general average, notice of which has been filed with the appropriate customs officer according to law, and

(ii)

other liens against forfeited property;

(D)

amounts authorized by law with respect to remission and mitigation;

(E)

claims of parties in interest to property disposed of under section 1612(b) of this title, in the amounts applicable to such claims at the time of seizure; and

(F)

equitable sharing payments made to other Federal agencies, State and local law enforcement agencies, and foreign countries under the authority of section 1616a(c) of this title or section 981 of title 18.

(2)

(A)

Any payment made under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (1) with respect to a seizure or a forfeiture of property shall not exceed the value of the property at the time of the seizure.

(B)

Any payment made under subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) with respect to a seizure or forfeiture of property shall not exceed the value of the property at the time of disposition.

(3)

In addition to the purposes described in paragraph (1), the Fund shall be available for—

(A)

purchases by the United States Customs Service of evidence of—

(i)

smuggling of controlled substances, and

(ii)

violations of the currency and foreign transaction reporting requirements of chapter 51 of title 31, if there is a substantial probability that the violations of these requirements are related to the smuggling of controlled substances;

(B)

equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by the United States Customs Service to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions;

(C)

the reimbursement, at the discretion of the Secretary, of private persons for expenses incurred by such persons in cooperating with the United States Customs Service in investigations and undercover law enforcement operations;

(D)

publication of the availability of awards under section 1619 of this title;

(E)

equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by a State or local law enforcement agency to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions if the conveyance will be used in joint law enforcement operations with the United States Customs Service; and

(F)

payment of overtime salaries, travel, fuel, training, equipment, and other similar costs of State and local law enforcement officers that are incurred in joint law enforcement operations with the United States Customs Service.

(b)

United States Coast Guard— The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall make available to the United States Coast Guard, from funds appropriated under subsection (f)(2) in excess of $10,000,000 for a fiscal year, proceeds in the Fund derived from seizures by the Coast Guard. Funds made available under this subsection may be used for—

(1)

equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by the United States Coast Guard to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions;

(2)

equipment for any vessel, vehicle, equipment, or aircraft available for official use by a State or local law enforcement agency to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions if the conveyance will be used in joint law enforcement operations with the United States Coast Guard;

(3)

payment of overtime salaries, travel, fuel, training, equipment, and other similar costs of State and local law enforcement officers that are incurred in joint law enforcement operations with the United States Coast Guard; and

(4)

expenses incurred in bringing vessels into compliance with applicable environmental laws prior to disposal by sinking.

(c)

Deposits— There shall be deposited into the Fund all forfeited currency and proceeds from forfeiture under any law enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service or the United States Coast Guard and all income from investments made under subsection (d).

(d)

Investment— Amounts in the Fund which are not currently needed for the purposes of this section shall be invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States.

(e)

Annual reports; audits—

(1)

The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall transmit to the Congress, by no later than February 1 of each fiscal year the following detailed reports:

(A)

a report on—

(i)

the estimated total value of property forfeited under any law enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service or the United States Coast Guard with respect to which funds were not deposited in the Fund during the previous fiscal year, and

(ii)

the estimated total value of all such property transferred to any State or local law enforcement agency;

(B)

a report on—

(i)

the balance of the Fund at the beginning of the preceding fiscal year;

(ii)

liens and mortgages paid and amount of money shared with State and local law enforcement agencies during the previous fiscal year;

(iii)

the net amount realized from the operations of the Fund during the previous fiscal year, the amount of seized cash being held as evidence, and the amount of money that has been carried over to the current fiscal year;

(iv)

any defendant’s equity in property valued at $1,000,000 or more;

(v)

the balance of the Fund at the end of the previous fiscal year; and

(C)

a report containing, for the previous fiscal year—

(i)

a complete set of audited financial statements (including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow analysis) prepared in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Comptroller General, and

(ii)

an analysis of income and expenses showing the revenue received or lost—

(I)

by property category (general property, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, cash, and real property) and

(II)

by type of disposition (sales, remissions, cancellations, placed into official use, sharing with State and local agencies, and destructions).

(2)

The Fund shall be subject to audits conducted by the Comptroller General of the United States, under such conditions as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(f)

Authorization of appropriations—

(1)

There are hereby appropriated from the Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (a)(1).

(2)

(A)

Subject to subparagraph (B), there are authorized to be appropriated from the Fund not to exceed $20,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the purposes set forth in subsections (a)(3) and (b) for such fiscal year.

(B)

Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under subparagraph (A), not to exceed the following, shall be available to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (a)(3):

(i)

$14,855,000 for fiscal year 1991.

(ii)

$15,598,000 for fiscal year 1992.

(3)

At the end of each fiscal year, any unobligated amount in excess of $15,000,000 remaining in the Fund shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury of the United States.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 613A, as added Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(11), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2986; amended Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1152(b)(2), title III, § 3142(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–12, 3207–93; Pub. L. 100–71, title I, § 101, July 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 438; Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(m) [title I, § 106], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–390, 1329–397; Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1912, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1320; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7364, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4475; Pub. L. 101–382, title I, § 121, Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 640; Pub. L. 101–508, title X, § 10012(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–390; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 110(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3832; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior similar provisions were contained in section 613a of act June 17, 1930, as added by Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 317, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054, which was classified to section 1613a of this title and subsequently repealed.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 104–316 struck out “annual financial” before “audits conducted” and inserted before period at end “, under such conditions as the Comptroller General determines appropriate”.

1990—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(1), added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(2), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(3), inserted “forfeited currency and” before “proceeds”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(4)(B)(i), (ii), redesignated cls. (iii) through (vi) as (ii) through (v), respectively, and struck out former cl. (ii), which read as follows: “sources of receipts (seized cash, conveyances, and others) of the Fund during the previous fiscal year;”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(C). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(4)(A), (B)(iii), (iv), (C), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–382, § 121(5), which amended subsec. (f) generally to read as follows:

“(1) Subject to paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated from the Fund not to exceed $20,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the purposes set forth in subsections (a)(3) and (b) of this section for such fiscal year.

“(2) Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), not to exceed the following shall be available to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (a)(3) of this section:

“(A) $14,855,000 for fiscal year 1991.

“(B) $15,598,000 for fiscal year 1992.”

was repealed by Pub. L. 101–508, § 10012(a)(1). See Construction of 1990 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, § 10012(a)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated from the Fund not to exceed $20,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the purposes set forth in subsections (a)(3) and (b) of this section for such fiscal year.”

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 amended section generally.

Subsec. (a)(iii). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1912(2), substituted “private persons” for “private citizens”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1912(1), substituted “described in subsection (a) of this section for which the fund is available to the United States Customs Service,” for “beginning on October 30, 1984, and ending on September 30, 1987,”.

1987—Pub. L. 100–71 repealed Pub. L. 99–570, § 1152(b)(2). See 1986 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(5)(v), (vi). Pub. L. 100–202 added cls. (v) and (vi).

1986—Pub. L. 99–570, § 1152(b)(2), which directed the repeal of this section, was itself repealed by Pub. L. 100–71. See Repeal and Revival of Section note below.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3142(a)(1)(A), (F), substituted “1991” for “1987” in introductory provisions and amended generally concluding provisions which had read as follows: “In addition to the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (6), the fund shall be available for purchases by the United States Customs Service of evidence of (A) smuggling of controlled substances, and (B) violations of the currency and foreign transaction reporting requirements of chapter 53 of title 31 if there is a substantial probability that the violations of these requirements are related to the smuggling of controlled substances.”

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3142(a)(1)(B), inserted “(including investigative costs leading to seizures)” after “of the seizure”.

Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3142(a)(1)(C)–(E), redesignated par. (6) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which provided that the fund would be available with respect to seizures and forfeitures by the United States Customs Service for equipping for law enforcement functions of forfeited vessels, vehicles and aircraft retained as provided by law for official use by the Customs Service.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3142(a)(2), amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows:

“(1) There are authorized to be appropriated from the fund for each of the four fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1984, not more than $10,000,000.

“(2) At the end of each of the first three of such four fiscal years, any amount in the fund in excess of $10,000,000 shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. At the end of the last of such four fiscal years, any amount in the fund shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and the fund shall cease to exist.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in subsecs. (b) and (e)(1) on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title X, § 10012(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–390, provided that: “The provisions of this section [amending this section] take effect August 21, 1990.”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3142(b), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–94, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect October 1, 1986.”

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as an Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note under section 1304 of this title.

Construction of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title X, § 10012(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–390, provided that: “Paragraph (5) of section 121 of the Customs and Trade Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–382] is repealed and subsection (f) of section 613A of the Tariff Act of 1930 [subsec. (f) of this section] shall be applied as if the amendment made by such paragraph (5) had not been enacted.”

Repeal and Revival of Section

Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1152(b)(2), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–12, which had directed the repeal of this section, was repealed by section 101 of Pub. L. 100–71, which also provided in part that section 1152(b) of Pub. L. 99–570 be treated as though it had never been enacted.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

§1614. Release of seized property

19 U.S.C. § 1614

If any person claiming an interest in any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of this chapter offers to pay the value of such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage, as determined under section 1606 of this title, and it appears that such person has in fact a substantial interest therein, the appropriate customs officer may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury if under the customs laws, or the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as the case may be, if under the navigation laws, accept such offer and release the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized upon the payment of such value thereof, which shall be distributed in the order provided in section 1613 of this title.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 614, 46 Stat. 757; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(b), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(12), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2987; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 614, 42 Stat. 987. That section was superseded by section 614 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

A prior provision authorizing collectors, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, to release seized merchandise on payment of the appraised value when the appraised value did not exceed $1,000, were contained in R.S. § 3081, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft in three places.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to the appropriate customs officer for reference to the collector.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in text on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Substitution in text of reference to Commandant of the Coast Guard or Commissioner of Customs for “the Secretary of Commerce” under the authority of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 1613 of this title.

§1615. Burden of proof in forfeiture proceedings

19 U.S.C. § 1615

In all suits or actions (other than those arising under section 1592 of this title) brought for the forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of any law relating to the collection of duties on imports or tonnage, where the property is claimed by any person, the burden of proof shall lie upon such claimant; and in all suits or actions brought for the recovery of the value of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage, because of violation of any such law, the burden of proof shall be upon the defendant: Provided, That probable cause shall be first shown for the institution of such suit or action, to be judged of by the court, subject to the following rules of proof:

(1)

The testimony or deposition of the officer of the customs who has boarded or required to come to a stop or seized a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft, or has arrested a person, shall be prima facie evidence of the place where the act in question occurred.

(2)

Marks, labels, brands, or stamps, indicative of foreign origin, upon or accompanying mechandise¹ or containers of merchandise, shall be prima facie evidence of the foreign origin of such merchandise.

(3)

The fact that a vessel of any description is found, or discovered to have been, in the vicinity of any hovering vessel and under any circumstances indicating contact or communication therewith, whether by proceeding to or from such vessel, or by coming to in the vicinity of such vessel, or by delivering to or receiving from such vessel any merchandise, person, or communication, or by any other means effecting contact or communication therewith, shall be prima facie evidence that the vessel in question has visited such hovering vessel.

Footnotes

1 So in original. Probably should be “merchandise”.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 615, 46 Stat. 757; Aug. 5, 1935, ch. 438, title II, § 207, 49 Stat. 525; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 110(d), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 896; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(13), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2987.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions somewhat similar to those in this section were contained in act Oct. 3, 1913, ch. 16, § III, T, 38 Stat. 189, the provisions of which were originally enacted in the Customs Administrative Act of June 10, 1890, ch. 407, § 21, 26 Stat. 140, and reenacted by the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of Aug. 5, 1909, ch. 6, § 28, 36 Stat. 101, and amended by the 1913 act. Section III of the 1913 act was superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 615, 42 Stat. 987, and was repealed by section 643 thereof. Section 615 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 615 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft in provisions preceding par. (1) and in par. (1).

1978—Pub. L. 95–410 inserted “(other than those arising under section 1592 of this title)” after “In all suits or actions”.

1935—Act Aug. 5, 1935, inserted a comma in place of a period at the end, inserted “subject to the following rules of proof”, and added subds. (1) to (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

[§1616. Repealed. Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1863(b), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–54 — repealed]

19 U.S.C. § 1616

Notes, amendments, and revision history

Section, act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 616, as added Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 318, 98 Stat. 2055, related to disposition of forfeited property.

Another section 616 of act June 17, 1930, as added by Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(4), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2987, is classified to section 1616a of this title.

A prior section 616 of act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, 46 Stat. 757, related to prohibition against compromising Government claims and was classified to this section, prior to repeal by act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 24, 62 Stat. 682, eff. Sept. 1, 1948. See section 1915 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

§1616a. Disposition of forfeited property

19 U.S.C. § 1616a

(a)

State proceedings— The Secretary of the Treasury may discontinue forfeiture proceedings under this chapter in favor of forfeiture under State law. If a complaint for forfeiture is filed under this chapter, the Attorney General may seek dismissal of the complaint in favor of forfeiture under State law.

(b)

Transfer of seized property; notice— If forfeiture proceedings are discontinued or dismissed under this section—

(1)

the United States may transfer the seized property to the appropriate State or local official; and

(2)

notice of the discontinuance or dismissal shall be provided to all known interested parties.

(c)

Retention or transfer of forfeited property—

(1)

The Secretary of the Treasury may apply property forfeited under this chapter in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B), or both:

(A)

Retain any of the property for official use.

(B)

Transfer any of the property to—

(i)

any other Federal agency;

(ii)

any State or local law enforcement agency that participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property; or

(iii)

the Civil Air Patrol.

(2)

The Secretary may transfer any forfeited personal property or the proceeds of the sale of any forfeited personal or real property to any foreign country which participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property, if such a transfer—

(A)

has been agreed to by the Secretary of State;

(B)

is authorized in an international agreement between the United States and the foreign country; and

(C)

is made to a country which, if applicable, has been certified under section 2291j(b) of title 22.

(3)

Aircraft may be transferred to the Civil Air Patrol under paragraph (1)(B)(iii) in support of air search and rescue and other emergency services and, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding entered into with a Federal agency, illegal drug traffic surveillance. Jet-powered aircraft may not be transferred to the Civil Air Patrol under the authority of paragraph (1)(B)(iii).

(d)

Liability of United States after transfer— The United States shall not be liable in any action relating to property transferred under this section if such action is based on an act or omission occurring after the transfer.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 616, as added Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(14), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2987; amended Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1863(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–54; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7366(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4478; Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e), Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 103–447, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4693.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Another section 616 of act June 17, 1930, as added by Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 318, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2055, was classified to section 1616 of this title and subsequently repealed.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 103–447 substituted “section 2291j(b) of title 22” for “section 2291(h) of title 22”.

1989—Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e)(1), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “Transfer any of the property to any—

“(i) other Federal agency; or

“(ii) State or local law enforcement agency that participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.”

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e)(2), added par. (3).

1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–690 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “The Secretary of the Treasury may transfer any property forfeited under this chapter to any other Federal agency or to any State or local law enforcement agency which participated directly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.”

1986—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–570 inserted “any other Federal agency or to” after “property forfeited under this chapter to”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7366(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4479, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] applies with respect to property forfeited under the Tariff Act of 1930 [this chapter] on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 18, 1988].”

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as an Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note under section 1304 of this title.

§1617. Compromise of Government claims by Secretary of the Treasury

19 U.S.C. § 1617

Upon a report by a customs officer, United States attorney, or any special attorney, having charge of any claim arising under the customs laws, showing the facts upon which such claim is based, the probabilities of a recovery and the terms upon which the same may be compromised, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to compromise such claim, if such action shall be recommended by the General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 617, 46 Stat. 757; May 10, 1934, ch. 277, § 512(b), 48 Stat. 759; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(gg), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 617, 42 Stat. 987. That section was superseded by section 617 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to customs officer for reference to collector and struck out reference to customs agents.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted “United States attorney” for “district attorney”. See section 541 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and Historical and Revision Note thereunder.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

Act May 10, 1934, ch. 277, § 512(b), 48 Stat. 759, abolished offices of General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel for Bureau of Internal Revenue, and office of Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor of the Treasury and transferred powers, duties, and functions thereof to General Counsel for Department of the Treasury.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions of Secretary of the Treasury, General Counsel of Department of the Treasury, or Department of the Treasury under this section with respect to functions transferred to Secretary of Commerce in sections 1303 and 1671 et seq. of this title by section 5(a)(1)(C) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979 were transferred to Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, § 5(a)(1)(C), 44 F.R. 69275, 93 Stat. 1381, eff. Jan. 2, 1980, as provided by section 1–107(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 993, set out as notes under section 2171 of this title.

§1618. Remission or mitigation of penalties

19 U.S.C. § 1618

Whenever any person interested in any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of this chapter, or who has incurred, or is alleged to have incurred, any fine or penalty thereunder, files with the Secretary of the Treasury if under the customs laws, and with the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as the case may be, if under the navigation laws, before the sale of such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage a petition for the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, if he finds that such fine, penalty, or forfeiture was incurred without willful negligence or without any intention on the part of the petitioner to defraud the revenue or to violate the law, or finds the existence of such mitigating circumstances as to justify the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, may remit or mitigate the same upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable and just, or order discontinuance of any prosecution relating thereto. In order to enable him to ascertain the facts, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue a commission to any customs officer to take testimony upon such petition: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any person of an award of compensation made before the filing of such petition.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 618, 46 Stat. 757; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(hh), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(16), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2988; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 618, 42 Stat. 987. That section was superseded by section 618 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and was repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions for a petition to the judge of the district, a summary investigation before the judge or a United States Commissioner, and transmission of the facts appearing thereon, with a certified copy of the evidence, to the Secretary of the Treasury, and provisions authorizing the Secretary to remit fines and penalties, etc., were contained in act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, §§ 17, 18, 20, 18 Stat. 189, 190, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 643, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 and Pub. L. 98–473 inserted reference to aircraft in two places.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted “customs officer” for “customs agent, collector, judge of the United States Customs Court, or United States commissioner”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in two places in text on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Substitution in text of references to Commandant of the Coast Guard and Commissioner of Customs for “the Secretary of Commerce” under the authority of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, see note set out under section 1613 of this title.

§1619. Award of compensation to informers

19 U.S.C. § 1619

(a)

In general— If—

(1)

any person who is not an employee or officer of the United States—

(A)

detects and seizes any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage subject to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws or the navigation laws and reports such detection and seizure to a customs officer, or

(B)

furnishes to a United States attorney, the Secretary of the Treasury, or any customs officer original information concerning—

(i)

any fraud upon the customs revenue, or

(ii)

any violation of the customs laws or the navigation laws which is being, or has been, perpetrated or contemplated by any other person; and

(2)

such detection and seizure or such information leads to a recovery of—

(A)

any duties withheld, or

(B)

any fine, penalty, or forfeiture of property incurred;

the Secretary may award and pay such person an amount that does not exceed 25 percent of the net amount so recovered.

(b)

Forfeited property not sold— If—

(1)

any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is forfeited to the United States and is thereafter, in lieu of sale—

(A)

destroyed under the customs or navigation laws, or

(B)

delivered to any governmental agency for official use, and

(2)

any person would be eligible to receive an award under subsection (a) but for the lack of sale of such forfeited property,

the Secretary may award and pay such person an amount that does not exceed 25 percent of the appraised value of such forfeited property.

(c)

Dollar limitation— The amount awarded and paid to any person under this section may not exceed $250,000 for any case.

(d)

Source of payment— Unless otherwise provided by law, any amount paid under this section shall be paid out of appropriations available for the collection of the customs revenue.

(e)

Recovery of bail bond— For purposes of this section, an amount recovered under a bail bond shall be deemed a recovery of a fine incurred.

Notes, amendments, and revision history

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 619, 46 Stat. 758; Aug. 5, 1935, ch. 438, title III, § 305, 49 Stat. 527; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 319, 321, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(15), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2988; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3125, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–88.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 619, 42 Stat. 988. That section was superseded by section 619 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

Provisions somewhat similar to those in this section, but applicable in part to any officer of the customs or other person, were contained in act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, § 4, 18 Stat. 186. Section 3 of the 1874 act required the Secretary of the Treasury to make suitable compensation in certain cases, as thereinafter provided, made an appropriation and required payments to be reported to Congress. Section 6 required claims to compensation to be established to the satisfaction of the court or judge, and required satisfactory proof when the fine, etc., was collected without judicial proceedings. All of these sections were repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 643, 42 Stat. 989.

Section 2 of the act of June 22, 1874, ch. 391, repealed all provisions under which moieties of fines, etc., were paid to informers, etc., and required the proceeds of all fines, penalties, and forfeitures to be paid into the Treasury. This last provision was omitted from the Code as superseded by section 527 of this title (act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2918, § 1, 34 Stat. 1315).

Section 26 of that Act repealed inconsistent laws and saved existing rights. It was omitted from the Code as temporary and executed.

R.S. § 2948, providing that additional duties were not to be deemed fines, etc., for distribution to customs officers, became inoperative by the repeal of all provisions for payment of moieties of fines, etc., to informers or officers, by the act of June 2, 1874, ch. 391, § 2, and was repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

An appropriation for compensation in lieu of moieties was made by act Mar. 2, 1926, ch. 43, § 1, 44 Stat. 141. Similar appropriations were contained in prior acts.

Amendments

1986—Pub. L. 99–570 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “Any person not an officer of the United States who detects and seizes any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage subject to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws or the navigation laws, and who reports the same to an officer of the customs, or who furnishes to a United States attorney, to the Secretary of the Treasury, or to any customs officer original information concerning any fraud upon the customs revenue, or a violation of the customs laws or the navigation laws, perpetrated or contemplated, which detection and seizure or information leads to a recovery of any duties withheld, or of any fine, penalty, or forfeiture incurred, may be awarded and paid by the Secretary of the Treasury a compensation of 25 per centum of the net amount recovered, but not to exceed $250,000 in any case, which shall be paid out of any appropriations available for the collection of the revenue from customs. For the purposes of this section an amount recovered under a bail bond shall be deemed a recovery of a fine incurred. If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is forfeited to the United States, and is thereafter, in lieu of sale, destroyed under the customs or navigation laws or delivered to any governmental agency for official use, compensation of 25 per centum of the appraised value thereof may be awarded and paid by the Secretary of the Treasury under the provisions of this section, but not to exceed $250,000 in any case. In no event shall the Secretary delegate the authority to pay an award under this section in excess of $10,000 to an official below the level of the Commissioner of Customs.”

1984—Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(15)(A), and Pub. L. 98–473, § 321, inserted reference to aircraft in two places.

Pub. L. 98–573, § 213(a)(15)(B), substituted “$250,000” for “$50,000” in two places.

Pub. L. 98–473, § 319(a), substituted “$150,000” for “$50,000”.

Pub. L. 98–473, § 319(b), inserted “In no event shall the Secretary delegate the authority to pay an award under this section in excess of $10,000 to an official below the level of the Commissioner of Customs.”

1935—Act Aug. 5, 1935, inserted “or the navigation laws” after “customs laws”, and provisions authorizing award of compensation of 25 per centum of the appraised value, but not to exceed $50,000 in any case.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.