§ 549. — Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seals.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC549]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 27--CUSTOMS
Sec. 549. Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seals
Whoever, without authority, affixes or attaches a customs seal,
fastening, or mark, or any seal, fastening, or mark purporting to be a
customs seal, fastening, or mark to any vessel, vehicle, warehouse, or
package; or
Whoever, without authority, willfully removes, breaks, injures, or
defaces any customs seal or other fastening or mark placed upon any
vessel, vehicle, warehouse, or package containing merchandise or baggage
in bond or in customs custody; or
Whoever maliciously enters any bonded warehouse or any vessel or
vehicle laden with or containing bonded merchandise with intent
unlawfully to remove therefrom any merchandise or baggage therein, or
unlawfully removes any merchandise or baggage in such vessel, vehicle,
or bonded warehouse or otherwise in customs custody or control; or
Whoever receives or transports any merchandise or baggage unlawfully
removed from any such vessel, vehicle, or warehouse, knowing the same to
have been unlawfully removed--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two
years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 1598 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties
(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, Sec. 598, 46 Stat. 752; June 25,
1938, ch. 679, Sec. 26, 52 Stat. 1089).
Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was
omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of ``principal'' in section
2 of this title.
In view of definition of felony in section 1 of this title words
``guilty of a felony'' were omitted. (See reviser's note under section
550 of this title.)
The punishment prescribed by section 545 of this title was inserted
to make this section complete without reference to another section. In
doing so it was necessary to rephrase the punishment provision of
section 545 of this title, as originally enacted, without change of
substance.
Forfeiture provision was omitted to conform with current
administrative practice.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $5,000'' in last par.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 1956 of this title.
