46 USC § 70501 - Findings and declarations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s70501"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 70501 - Findings and declarations"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "70501"
section_name: "Findings and declarations"
chapter_number: 705
chapter_name: "MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 110–407, title II, § 201, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4299.)"
---


# § 70501. Findings and declarations

Congress finds and declares that (1) trafficking in controlled substances aboard vessels is a serious international problem, is universally condemned, and presents a specific threat to the security and societal well-being of the United States and (2) operating or embarking in a submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage is a serious international problem, facilitates transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and terrorism, and presents a specific threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the security of the United States.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 110–407, title II, § 201, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4299.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 70501 | 46 App.:1902. | Pub. L. 96–350, § 2, Sept. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 99–307, § 7, May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 447; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3202, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–95; Pub. L. 99–640, § 17, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3552. |

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008— inserted cl. (1) designation after “declares that”, substituted “States and” for “States.”, and added cl. (2).