§ 551. — Concealing or destroying invoices or other papers.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC551]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 27--CUSTOMS
Sec. 551. Concealing or destroying invoices or other papers
Whoever willfully conceals or destroys any invoice, book, or paper
relating to any merchandise imported into the United States, after an
inspection thereof has been demanded by the collector of any collection
district; or
Whoever conceals or destroys at any time any such invoice, book, or
paper for the purpose of suppressing any evidence of fraud therein
contained--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two
years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 120 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 64, 35 Stat. 1100).
Minor 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.
Transfer of Functions
All offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs,
surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise in Bureau of Customs
of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were required to be
made by President with advice and consent of Senate ordered abolished,
with such offices to be terminated not later than Dec. 31, 1966, by
Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1965, eff. May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat.
1317, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and
Employees. All functions of offices eliminated were already vested in
Secretary of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, eff. July 31,
1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.