Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§548 Removing or repacking goods in warehouses
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 27— - CUSTOMS › § 548
Summary
Fraudulently hiding, removing, repacking, or altering marks on goods in a bonded warehouse can bring a fine, up to two years' jail, and seizure by the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §548
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever fraudulently conceals, removes, or repacks merchandise in any bonded warehouse or fraudulently alters, defaces or obliterates any marks or numbers placed upon packages deposited in such warehouse, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. Merchandise so concealed, removed, or repacked, or packages upon which any marks or numbers have been so altered, defaced, or obliterated, shall be forfeited to the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 1597 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 597, 46 Stat. 752). This section was rewritten to place the criminal provisions ahead of the forfeiture provisions. This did not require any substantive changes except omission of reference to persons aiding. Such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. The punishment prescribed by section 545 of this title was inserted to make this section complete without reference to another section. In doing so it was necessary to rephrase the punishment provision of section 545 of this title, as originally enacted, without change of substance. Forfeiture provision was rephrased to make it clear that forfeiture was not dependent upon conviction. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 548
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73