Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-110

§1905 Authorities

Title 21 › CHAPTER 24 — INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING › § 1905

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives the Secretary of the Treasury the power, by rules, licenses, or instructions, to examine, control, or ban transactions that involve foreign exchange, currency, securities, or bank transfers when a foreign country or its citizen has an interest. The Secretary can also block or stop any buying, holding, using, moving, selling, or other dealing with property tied to a foreign country or its nationals that is under U.S. jurisdiction, including temporary blocks during investigations. The Secretary can require recordkeeping, reports, and document production. Following the Secretary’s rules or orders is a defense in court, and people acting in good faith under those rules are protected from liability. The Secretary may create any other regulations, definitions, licenses, or directions needed to use these powers.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §1905

Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

To carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of the Treasury may, under such regulations as he may prescribe, by means of instructions, licenses, or otherwise—

(1)investigate, regulate, or prohibit—

(A)any transactions in foreign exchange, currency, or securities; and

(B)transfers of credit or payments between, by, through, or to any banking institution, to the extent that such transfers or payments involve any interests of any foreign country or a national thereof; and

(2)investigate, block during the pendency of an investigation, regulate, direct and compel, nullify, void, prevent, or prohibit any acquisition, holding, withholding, use, transfer, withdrawal, transportation, placement into foreign or domestic commerce of, or dealing in, or exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to, or transactions involving, any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof has any interest,

by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(b)Recordkeeping

Pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury may require recordkeeping, reporting, and production of documents to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(c)Defenses

(1)Full and actual compliance with any regulation, order, license, instruction, or direction issued under this chapter shall be a defense in any proceeding alleging a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

(2)No person shall be held liable in any court for or with respect to anything done or omitted in good faith in connection with the administration of, or pursuant to, and in reliance on this chapter, or any regulation, instruction, or direction issued under this chapter.

(d)Rulemaking

The Secretary of the Treasury may issue such other regulations or orders, including regulations prescribing recordkeeping, reporting, and production of documents, definitions, licenses, instructions, or directions, as may be necessary for the exercise of the authorities granted by this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 1905

Title 21, Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110