Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73
§1595a Aiding unlawful importation
Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part Part V— - Enforcement Provisions › § 1595a
Summary
If a boat, car, animal, plane, or any other thing is used to help bring illegal goods into the United States, customs can take that thing and its gear. People who plan, pay for, or help with the illegal import can be fined an amount equal to the value of the goods. Goods brought in illegally can be taken by the government in different ways. Some must be taken — for example, stolen or smuggled items, illegal drugs not imported legally, certain contraband, and plastic explosives that lack required detection chemicals. Other goods may be taken if they break health, safety, or conservation rules, lack required permits or licenses, violate copyright or trademark rules, are wrongly marked, or are banned under other import rules. If a visa, license, or stamp is required, customs can hold the goods until the right papers are shown; fake papers let customs take the goods. If the only issue is how the goods are classified or valued, they usually are not taken except under another law. Customs can cancel a seizure or let the goods be sent out of the country unless that would harm health, safety, conservation, or break a treaty. Goods sent out of the United States illegally, the money from them, and items used to help send them can also be taken.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1595a
Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Except as specified in subsection (b) or (c) of section 1594 of this title, every vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing used in, to aid in, or to facilitate, by obtaining information or in any other way, the importation, bringing in, unlading, landing, removal, concealing, harboring, or subsequent transportation of any article which is being or has been introduced, or attempted to be introduced, into the United States contrary to law, whether upon such vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing or otherwise, may be seized and forfeited together with its tackle, apparel, furniture, harness, or equipment.
(b)Every person who directs, assists financially or otherwise, or is in any way concerned in any unlawful activity mentioned in the preceding subsection shall be liable to a penalty equal to the value of the article or articles introduced or attempted to be introduced.
(c)Merchandise which is introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law shall be treated as follows:
(1)The merchandise shall be seized and forfeited if it—
(A)is stolen, smuggled, or clandestinely imported or introduced;
(B)is a controlled substance, as defined in the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and is not imported in accordance with applicable law;
(C)is a contraband article, as defined in section 80302 of title 49; or
(D)is a plastic explosive, as defined in section 841(q) of title 18, which does not contain a detection agent, as defined in section 841(p) of such title.
(2)The merchandise may be seized and forfeited if—
(A)its importation or entry is subject to any restriction or prohibition which is imposed by law relating to health, safety, or conservation and the merchandise is not in compliance with the applicable rule, regulation, or statute;
(B)its importation or entry requires a license, permit or other authorization of an agency of the United States Government and the merchandise is not accompanied by such license, permit, or authorization;
(C)it is merchandise or packaging in which copyright, trademark, or trade name protection violations are involved (including, but not limited to, violations of section 1124, 1125, or 1127 of title 15, section 506 of title 17, or section 2318 or 2320 of title 18);
(D)it is trade dress merchandise involved in the violation of a court order citing section 1125 of title 15;
(E)it is merchandise which is marked intentionally in violation of section 1304 of this title;
(F)it is merchandise for which the importer has received written notices that previous importations of identical merchandise from the same supplier were found to have been marked in violation of section 1304 of this title; or
(G)U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines it is a technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof the importation of which is prohibited under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(1) of section 1201 of title 17.
(3)If the importation or entry of the merchandise is subject to quantitative restrictions requiring a visa, permit, license, or other similar document, or stamp from the United States Government or from a foreign government or issuing authority pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, the merchandise shall be subject to detention in accordance with section 1499 of this title unless the appropriate visa, license, permit, or similar document or stamp is presented to the Customs Service; but if the visa, permit, license, or similar document or stamp which is presented in connection with the importation or entry of the merchandise is counterfeit, the merchandise may be seized and forfeited.
(4)If the merchandise is imported or introduced contrary to a provision of law which governs the classification or value of merchandise and there are no issues as to the admissibility of the merchandise into the United States, it shall not be seized except in accordance with section 1592 of this title.
(5)In any case where the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise are required or authorized by this section, the Secretary may—
(A)remit the forfeiture under section 1618 of this title, or
(B)permit the exportation of the merchandise, unless its release would adversely affect health, safety, or conservation or be in contravention of a bilateral or multilateral agreement or treaty.
(d)Merchandise exported or sent from the United States or attempted to be exported or sent from the United States contrary to law, or the proceeds or value thereof, and property used to facilitate the exporting or sending of such merchandise, the attempted exporting or sending of such merchandise, or the receipt, purchase, transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise prior to exportation shall be seized and forfeited to the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), is title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 801 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 801 of Title 21 and Tables. Codification In subsec. (c)(1)(C), “section 80302 of title 49” substituted for “section 1 of the Act of
August 9, 1939 (49 U.S.C. App. 781)” on authority of Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b),
July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 596 of act
June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, 46 Stat. 752, related to buildings on boundary, prior to repeal by act
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 21, 62 Stat. 862, eff. Sept. 1, 1948.
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (c)(2)(G). Pub. L. 114–125 added subpar. (G). 2008—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–403, which directed amendment of section 596(c)(2)(c) of the Tariff Act of 1950 by striking out “or 509”, was executed by striking out “or 509” after “506” in subsec. (c)(2)(C) of this section, which is section 596 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–177 added subsec. (d). 1996—Subsec. (c)(1)(D). Pub. L. 104–132 added subpar. (D). 1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–182 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “Any merchandise that is introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law (other than in violation of section 1592 of this title) may be seized and forfeited.” 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3123(1), (2), substituted “subsection (b) or (c) of section 1594” for “the proviso to section 1594” and “may be seized” for “shall be seized”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–570, § 3123(3), added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–132 effective 1 year after Apr. 24, 1996, see section 607 of Pub. L. 104–132, set out as a note under section 841 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
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 section 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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1595a
Title 19 — Customs Duties
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73