46 USC 70503 - Prohibited acts

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 21, 2025

§ 70503.

Prohibited acts

(a)

Prohibitions.—

While on board a covered vessel, an individual may not knowingly or intentionally—

(1)

manufacture or distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance;

(2)

destroy (including jettisoning any item or scuttling, burning, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or attempt or conspire to destroy, property that is subject to forfeiture under section 511(a) of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a)); or

(3)

conceal, or attempt or conspire to conceal, more than $100,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, or compartment of or aboard the covered vessel if that vessel is outfitted for smuggling.

(b)

Extension Beyond Territorial Jurisdiction.—

Subsection (a) applies even though the act is committed outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

(c)

Nonapplication.—

(1)

In general.—

Subject to paragraph (2), subsection (a) does not apply to—

(A)

a common or contract carrier or an employee of the carrier who possesses or distributes a controlled substance in the lawful and usual course of the carrier’s business; or

(B)

a public vessel of the United States or an individual on board the vessel who possesses or distributes a controlled substance in the lawful course of the individual’s duties.

(2)

Entered in manifest.—

Paragraph (1) applies only if the controlled substance is part of the cargo entered in the vessel’s manifest and is intended to be imported lawfully into the country of destination for scientific, medical, or other lawful purposes.

(d)

Burden of Proof.—

The United States Government is not required to negative a defense provided by subsection (c) in a complaint, information, indictment, or other pleading or in a trial or other proceeding. The burden of going forward with the evidence supporting the defense is on the person claiming its benefit.

(e)

Covered Vessel Defined.—

In this section the term “covered vessel” means—

(1)

a vessel of the United States or a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(2)

any other vessel if the individual is a citizen of the United States or a resident alien of the United States.

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1687; Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 314(a), (b), (e)(1), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 59.)

cite as: 46 USC 70503