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Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-102

§961 Prohibited Acts B

Title 21 › CHAPTER 13 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER II — IMPORT AND EXPORT › § 961

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone breaks section 954 or fails to tell the Attorney General about an import or export under section 971, they must pay a civil fine of up to $25,000. The civil penalty follows the same rules set out in sections 842(c)(1) and 842(c)(3). If the government brings criminal charges by an information or indictment saying the act was done knowingly or intentionally, and a judge or jury finds that it was, the person can be jailed for up to one year, fined up to $25,000, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §961

Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any person who violates section 954 of this title or fails to notify the Attorney General of an importation or exportation under section 971 of this title shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), any such person shall, with respect to any such violation, be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. section 842(c)(1) and (c)(3) of this title shall apply to any civil penalty assessed under this paragraph.
(2)If such a violation is prosecuted by an information or indictment which alleges that the violation was committed knowingly or intentionally and the trier of fact specifically finds that the violation was so committed, such person shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than $25,000 or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “or fails to notify the Attorney General of an importation or exportation under section 971 of this title”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–690 effective 120 days after Nov. 18, 1988, see section 6061 of Pub. L. 100–690, set out as a note under section 802 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after Oct. 26, 1970, see 1105(a) of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a under section 951 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 961

Title 21, Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102