---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 923"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "923"
heading: "Random searches of containers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/923"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter I — Security of United States Seaports"
  - "Part B — Port Operations"
---

# §923. Random searches of containers


Not later than 1 year after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), shall develop and implement a plan, utilizing best practices for empirical scientific research design and random sampling, to conduct random [searches](/usc/6/901.md?p=14) of [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) in addition to any targeted or preshipment [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) of such [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) required by law or regulation or conducted under any other program conducted by the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15). Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that implementation of the random sampling plan precludes additional [searches](/usc/6/901.md?p=14) of [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) not inspected pursuant to the plan.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 123, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1899.)