18 USC § 544 - Relanding of goods

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s544"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 544 - Relanding of goods"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "544"
section_name: "Relanding of goods"
chapter_number: 27
chapter_name: "CUSTOMS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 716; June 30, 1955, ch. 258, § 2(c), 69 Stat. 242; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330004(18), 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(23), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508.)"
---


# § 544. Relanding of goods

If any merchandise entered or withdrawn for exportation without payment of the duties thereon, or with intent to obtain a drawback of the duties paid, or of any other allowances given by law on the exportation thereof, is relanded at any place in the United States without entry having been made, such merchandise shall be considered as having been imported into the United States contrary to law, and each person concerned shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both; and such merchandise shall be forfeited.

The term “any place in the United States”, as used in this section, shall not include the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, or Guam.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 716; June 30, 1955, ch. 258, § 2(c), 69 Stat. 242; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330004(18), 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(23), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (, title IV, § 589, ).

The final paragraph was added to conform with , U.S.C., 1940 ed.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— amended . See 1994 Amendment note below.

1994—, substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in first par.

, as amended by , struck out “Philippine Islands,” before “Virgin Islands” in last par.

1955—Act , inserted reference to Johnston Island in last par.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1955 Amendment

Amendment by act , effective , see section 2(d) of act , set out as a note under , Customs Duties.