18 USC § 957 - Possession of property in aid of foreign government

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s957"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 957 - Possession of property in aid of foreign government"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "957"
section_name: "Possession of property in aid of foreign government"
chapter_number: 45
chapter_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS"
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. 745; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 957. Possession of property in aid of foreign government

Whoever, in aid of any foreign government, knowingly and willfully possesses or controls any property or papers used or designed or intended for use in violating any penal statute, or any of the rights or obligations of the United States under any treaty or the law of nations, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 745; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. § 98 (, title XI, § 22, ; , ).

Definition of “foreign government” was omitted and is incorporated in .

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.