Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1587 Possession of Slaves Aboard Vessel
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 77 — PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS › § 1587
Summary
Makes it a crime for a ship's captain, master, or commander in or off U.S. waters to have a person on board to sell as a slave or to land that person to sell. They can be fined under federal law, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1587
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being the captain, master, or commander of any vessel found in any river, port, bay, harbor, or on the high seas within the jurisdiction of the United States, or hovering off the coast thereof, and having on board any person for the purpose of selling such person as a slave, or with intent to land such person for such purpose, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 426 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 251, 35 Stat. 1139). Mandatory-punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative. Minor change was made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–392 substituted “10 years” for “four years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1587
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102