Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-102
§967 Smuggling of Controlled Substances; Investigations; Oaths; Subpenas; Witnesses; Evidence; Production of Records; Territorial Limits; Fees and Mileage of Witnesses
Title 21 › CHAPTER 13 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER II — IMPORT AND EXPORT › § 967
Summary
To investigate smuggling of controlled substances, the Secretary of the Treasury can make people swear to tell the truth, issue orders for witnesses to appear, force them to come, collect testimony, and demand relevant records or other evidence. These powers apply anywhere inside the customs territory of the United States, but no witness must travel more than 100 miles to attend. Witnesses get the same fees and travel pay as witnesses in U.S. courts, and oaths can be taken anywhere under U.S. jurisdiction.
Full Legal Text
Title 21, §967
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
For the purpose of any investigation which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, is necessary and proper to the enforcement of section 545 of title 18 (relating to smuggling goods into the United States) with respect to any controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of this title), the Secretary of the Treasury may administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of records (including books, papers, documents and tangible things which constitute or contain evidence) relevant or material to the investigation. The attendance of witnesses and the production of records may be required from any place within the customs territory of the United States, except that a witness shall not be required to appear at any hearing distant more than 100 miles from the place where he was served with subpena. Witnesses summoned by the Secretary shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. Oaths and affirmations may be made at any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was not enacted as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly classified to section 1034 of Title 31 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, § 1, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 877. Section was also formerly classified to section 198a of this title.
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–513 substituted “section 545 of title 18 (relating to smuggling goods into the United States) with respect to any controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of this title)” for “the laws of the United States relating to narcotic drugs and marihuana” and substituted the customs territory of the United States for any State or any territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States is the defined area from within which the attendance of witnesses and the production of records may be required, and struck out provisions making the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury the determinative factor as to what is relevant or material to the investigation.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–513 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 an
Effective Date
note under section 951 of this title.
Savings Provision
Prosecutions for any violation of law occurring, and civil seizures or forfeitures and injunctive proceedings commenced, prior to the
Effective Date
of amendment of this section by section 1102 of Pub. L. 91–513 not to be affected or abated by reason thereof, see section 1103 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a note under sections 171 to 174 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 967
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102