Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73
§1453 Lading and unlading of merchandise or baggage; penalties
Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part Part II— - Report, Entry, and Unlading of Vessels and Vehicles › § 1453
Summary
Loading or unloading cargo from a ship or vehicle without a special customs permit is illegal. The ship master, vehicle operator, and anyone knowingly involved each must pay a penalty equal to its value. Cargo can be seized, and if worth $500 or more the ship or vehicle can be seized too.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1453
Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
If any merchandise or baggage is laden on, or unladen from, any vessel or vehicle without a special license or permit therefor issued by the appropriate customs officer, the master of such vessel or the person in charge of such vehicle and every other person who knowingly is concerned, or who aids therein, or in removing or otherwise securing such merchandise or baggage, shall each be liable to a penalty equal to the value of the merchandise or baggage so laden or unladen, and such merchandise or baggage shall be subject to forfeiture, and if the value thereof is $500 or more, the vessel or vehicle on or from which the same shall be laden or unladen shall be subject to forfeiture.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 453, 42 Stat. 955. That section was superseded by section 453 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act. Provisions imposing penalties and forfeitures for violation of R.S. § 2872, which required a special license for unloading or delivering merchandise otherwise than in open day, were contained in R.S. §§ 2873 and 2874, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentFor
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1453
Title 19 — Customs Duties
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73