Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seals
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
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, 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 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 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 717 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 109–177, title III, §311(e), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 242.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to put on or break customs seals without authority, or to break into bonded warehouses, ships, or vehicles to illegally remove goods in customs custody. It is also a crime to knowingly receive or move goods that were illegally removed.