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Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102

§544 Relanding of Goods

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 27 — CUSTOMS › § 544

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

If goods sent out without paying duties, or to try to get duty refunds or other export benefits, are brought back and unloaded in the United States without being declared, they are treated as illegal imports. People involved can be fined under federal law, jailed up to two years, or both, and the goods will be seized. The phrase "any place in the United States" here does not include the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, or Guam.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §544

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

If any merchandise entered or withdrawn for exportation without payment of the duties thereon, or with intent to obtain a drawback of the duties paid, or of any other allowances given by law on the exportation thereof, is relanded at any place in the United States without entry having been made, such merchandise shall be considered as having been imported into the United States contrary to law, and each person concerned shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both; and such merchandise shall be forfeited. The term “any place in the United States”, as used in this section, shall not include the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, or Guam.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 1589 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 589, 46 Stat. 750). The final paragraph was added to conform with section 1709 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 amended Pub. L. 103–322, § 330004(18). See 1994 Amendment note below. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in first par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330004(18), as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(23), struck out “Philippine Islands,” before “Virgin Islands” in last par. 1955—Act June 30, 1955, inserted reference to Johnston Island in last par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1955 AmendmentAmendment by act
June 30, 1955, effective
July 1, 1955, see section 2(d) of act
June 30, 1955, set out as a note under section 1401 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 544

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102