19 USC § 1610 - Seizure; judicial forfeiture proceedings

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t19/s1610"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "19 USC § 1610 - Seizure; judicial forfeiture proceedings"
title_number: 19
title_name: "CUSTOMS DUTIES"
section_number: "1610"
section_name: "Seizure; judicial forfeiture proceedings"
chapter_number: 4
chapter_name: "TARIFF ACT OF 1930"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "Enforcement Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 610, 46 Stat. 755; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 506, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(ee), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 111(b), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 314, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(7), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(c)(3), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4480.)"
---


# § 1610. Seizure; judicial forfeiture proceedings

section 1607 of this title

If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to , the appropriate customs officer shall transmit a report of the case, with the names of available witnesses, to the United States attorney for the district in which the seizure was made for the institution of the proper proceedings for the condemnation of such property.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 610, 46 Stat. 755; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, § 506, 68 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(ee), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 95–410, title I, § 111(b), Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 314, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2054; Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(7), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7367(c)(3), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4480.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , . That section was superseded by section 610 of act , comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.

### Amendments

1988— reenacted section without change.

1984— substituted “If any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage is not subject to ” for “If the value of any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage so seized is greater than $10,000”.

amended section in manner substantially identical to amendment by .

1978— substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” wherever appearing.

1970— substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector, and struck out reference to appraiser’s return of value.

1954—Act , substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

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

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by , see , set out as a note under .