18 USC § 1582 - Vessels for slave trade

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1582"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1582 - Vessels for slave trade"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1582"
section_name: "Vessels for slave trade"
chapter_number: 77
chapter_name: "PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS"
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. 772; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1582. Vessels for slave trade

Whoever, whether as master, factor, or owner, builds, fits out, equips, loads, or otherwise prepares or sends away any vessel, in any port or place within the United States, or causes such vessel to sail from any such port or place, for the purpose of procuring any person from any foreign kingdom or country to be transported and held, sold, or otherwise disposed of as a slave, or held to service or labor, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than seven years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 772; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 424 (, ).

Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction of the United States”. See  defining “United States”.

Provision for division of the fine and its recovery by private person was omitted. (See reviser’s note under .)

Mandatory-punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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