Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-102
§1706 Importation in Vessels Under Thirty Tons and Aircraft; Licenses; Labels as Prima Facie Evidence of Foreign Origin of Merchandise
Title 19 › CHAPTER 5 — SMUGGLING › § 1706
Summary
Foreign dutiable goods cannot be brought into the U.S. in vessels under 30 net tons unless the Secretary of the Treasury gives a special license, except for districts next to Canada or Mexico. They must enter at the ports the law directs or by properly licensed aircraft. Unlicensed vessels, aircraft, and their cargo can be seized and forfeited; marks or labels showing foreign origin are taken as proof.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1706
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Except into the districts adjoining to the Dominion of Canada, or into the districts adjacent to Mexico, no merchandise of foreign growth or manufacture subject to the payment of duties shall be brought into the United States from any foreign port or place, or from any hovering vessel, in any vessel of less than thirty net tons burden without special license granted by the Secretary of the Treasury under such conditions as he may prescribe, nor in any other manner than by sea, except by aircraft duly licensed in accordance with law, or landed or unladen at any other port than is directed by law, under the penalty of seizure and forfeiture of all such unlicensed vessels or aircraft and of the merchandise imported therein, landed or unladen in any manner. Marks, labels, brands, or stamps, indicative of foreign origin, upon or accompanying merchandise or containers of merchandise found upon any such vessel or aircraft, shall be prima facie evidence of the foreign origin of such merchandise.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1706
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102