§ 548. — Removing or repacking goods in warehouses.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC548]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 27--CUSTOMS
Sec. 548. Removing or repacking goods in warehouses
Whoever fraudulently conceals, removes, or repacks merchandise in
any bonded warehouse or fraudulently alters, defaces or obliterates any
marks or numbers placed upon packages deposited in such warehouse, shall
be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or
both.
Merchandise so concealed, removed, or repacked, or packages upon
which any marks or numbers have been so altered, defaced, or
obliterated, shall be forfeited to the United States.
(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 1597 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties
(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, Sec. 597, 46 Stat. 752).
This section was rewritten to place the criminal provisions ahead of
the forfeiture provisions. This did not require any substantive changes
except omission of reference to persons aiding. Such persons are made
principals by section 2 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section 545 of this title, as originally enacted, without change of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 rephrased to make it clear that forfeiture
was not dependent upon conviction.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $5,000''.
