Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-102
§879 Search Warrants
Title 21 › CHAPTER 13 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT › Part E — Administrative and Enforcement Provisions › § 879
Summary
Search warrants for drug crimes can be served day or night if a judge or U.S. magistrate judge finds there is probable cause.
Full Legal Text
Title 21, §879
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A search warrant relating to offenses involving controlled substances may be served at any time of the day or night if the judge or United States magistrate judge issuing the warrant is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that grounds exist for the warrant and for its service at such time.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1974—Pub. L. 93–481 struck out designation “(a)” before “A search warrant”, and struck out subsec. (b) which permitted officers authorized to execute search warrants to break open and enter premises under certain circumstances and which required that such officers identify themselves and give reasons and authority for their entry after such entry.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“United States magistrate judge” substituted in text for “United States magistrate” pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 879
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102