Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§554 Smuggling goods from the United States
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 27— - CUSTOMS › § 554
Summary
It is a crime to knowingly or fraudulently export or try to export goods from the United States in ways that break U.S. laws or rules. It is also illegal to receive, hide, buy, sell, or otherwise help move or conceal those goods before export if you know they are meant to be exported illegally. A person who does this can be fined, jailed for up to 10 years, or both. The term "United States" is used as defined in section 545.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §554
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Whoever fraudulently or knowingly exports or sends from the United States, or attempts to export or send from the United States, any merchandise, article, or object contrary to any law or regulation of the United States, or receives, conceals, buys, sells, or in any manner facilitates the transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise, article or object, prior to exportation, knowing the same to be intended for exportation contrary to any law or regulation of the United States, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(b)In this section, the term “United States” has the meaning given that term in section 545.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Another section 554 was renumbered section 555 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 554
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73