§ 226

Bribery affecting port security

Up to 15 years Weapons & Terrorism None sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 11 · Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(a) In General. Whoever knowingly—

(1) directly or indirectly, gives, offers, or promises anything of value to any public or private person, with intent to commit international terrorism or domestic terrorism (as those terms are defined under section 2331), to—

(A) influence any action or any person to commit or aid in committing, or collude in, or allow, any fraud, or make opportunity for the commission of any fraud affecting any secure or restricted area or seaport; or

(B) induce any official or person to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official or person that affects any secure or restricted area or seaport; or

(2) directly or indirectly, demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity in return for—

(A) being influenced in the performance of any official act affecting any secure or restricted area or seaport; and

(B) knowing that such influence will be used to commit, or plan to commit, international or domestic terrorism,

shall be or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.

(b) Definition. In this section, the term "secure or restricted area" means an area of a vessel or facility designated as secure in an approved security plan, as required under section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated under that section.

History: (Added Pub. L. 109–177, title III, §309(a), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 241.)

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime to knowingly bribe someone, or offer a bribe, with the intent to commit terrorism by enabling fraud or rule-breaking that affects a seaport or a secure area of a ship or port facility. It is also a crime to demand or accept a bribe to be influenced in an official act affecting such an area, knowing the influence will be used for terrorism. It applies to both public and private persons.