Sec. 596. AIDING UNLAWFUL IMPORTATION
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## SEC. 596 AIDING UNLAWFUL IMPORTATION **[**[19 U.S.C. 1595a](/us/usc/t19/s1595a)**]** ###
(a)Except as specified in subsection
(b)or
(c)of section 594 of this Act, every vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing used in, to aid in, or to facilitate, by obtaining information or in any other way, the importation, bringing in, unlading, landing, removal, concealing, harboring, or subsequent transportation of any article which is being or has been introduced, or attempted to be introduced, into the United States contrary to law, whether upon such vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing or otherwise, may be seized and forfeited together with its tackle, apparel, furniture, harness, or equipment. ###
(b)Every person who directs, assists financially or otherwise, or is in any way concerned in any unlawful activity mentioned in the preceding subsection shall be liable to a penalty equal to the value of the article or articles introduced or attempted to be introduced. ###
(c)Merchandise which is introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law shall be treated as follows: ####
(1)The merchandise shall be seized and forfeited if it— #####
(A)is stolen, smuggled, or clandestinely imported or introduced; #####
(B)is a controlled substance, as defined in the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and is not imported in accordance with applicable law; #####
(C)is a contraband article, as defined in section 1 of the Act of August 9, 1939 (49 U.S.C. App. 781); or #####
(D)is a plastic explosive, as defined in section 841(q) of title 18, United States Code, which does not contain a detection agent, as defined in section 841(p) of such title. ####
(2)The merchandise may be seized and forfeited if— #####
(A)its importation or entry is subject to any restriction or prohibition which is imposed by law relating to health, safety, or conservation and the merchandise is not in compliance with the applicable rule, regulation, or statute; #####
(B)its importation or entry requires a license, permit or other authorization of an agency of the United States Government and the merchandise is not accompanied by such license, permit, or authorization; #####
(C)it is merchandise or packaging in which copyright, trademark, or trade name protection violations are involved (including, but not limited to, violations of section 42, 43, or 45 of the Act of July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1124, 1125, or 1127), section 506 or 509 of title 17, United States Code, or section 2318 or 2320 of title 18, United States Code); #####
(D)it is trade dress merchandise involved in the violation of a court order citing section 43 of such Act of July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1125); #####
(E)it is merchandise which is marked intentionally in violation of section 304; #####
(F)it is merchandise for which the importer has received written notices that previous importations of identical merchandise from the same supplier were found to have been marked in violation of section 304; or #####
(G)U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines it is a technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof the importation of which is prohibited under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(1) of section 1201 of title 17, United States Code. ####
(3)If the importation or entry of the merchandise is subject to quantitative restrictions requiring a visa, permit, license, or other similar document, or stamp from the United States Government or from a foreign government or issuing authority pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, the merchandise shall be subject to detention in accordance with section 499 unless the appropriate visa, license, permit, or similar document or stamp is presented to the Customs Service; but if the visa, permit, license, or similar document or stamp which is presented in connection with the importation or entry of the merchandise is counterfeit, the merchandise may be seized and forfeited. ####
(4)If the merchandise is imported or introduced contrary to a provision of law which governs the classification of value of merchandise and there are no issues as to the admissibility of the merchandise into the United States, it shall not be seized except in accordance with section 592. ####
(5)In any case where the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise are required or authorized by this section, the Secretary may— #####
(A)remit the forfeiture under section 618, or #####
(B)permit the exportation of the merchandise, unless its release would adversely affect health, safety, or conservation or be in contravention of a bilateral or multilateral agreement or treaty. ###
(d)Merchandise exported or sent from the United States or attempted to be exported or sent from the United States contrary to law, or the proceeds or value thereof, and property used to facilitate the exporting or sending of such merchandise, the attempted exporting or sending of such merchandise, or the receipt, purchase, transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise prior to exportation shall be seized and forfeited to the United States.
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