Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-102
§1610 Seizure; Judicial Forfeiture Proceedings
Title 19 › CHAPTER 4 — TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › SUBTITLE III — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part V — Enforcement Provisions › § 1610
Summary
When customs seizes a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, goods, or luggage that is not covered by section 1607, the customs officer must send a report about the seizure and the names of any witnesses to the U.S. attorney where the seizure happened. The U.S. attorney will then begin the court case to legally take (forfeit) the property.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1610
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title, the appropriate customs officer shall transmit a report of the case, with the names of available witnesses, to the United States attorney for the district in which the seizure was made for the institution of the proper proceedings for the condemnation of such property.
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, § 610, 42 Stat. 985. That section was superseded by section 610 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.
Amendments
1988—Pub. L. 100–690 reenacted section without change. 1984—Pub. L. 98–573 substituted “If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to section 1607 of this title” for “If the value of any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage so seized is greater than $10,000”. Pub. L. 98–473 amended section in manner substantially identical to amendment by Pub. L. 98–573. 1978—Pub. L. 95–410 substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” wherever appearing. 1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector, and struck out reference to appraiser’s return of value. 1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–573 effective Oct. 15, 1984, see section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.
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. § 1610
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102