Whenever any merchandise remains on board any vessel or vehicle from a foreign port more than twenty-five days after the date on which report of said vessel or vehicle was made, the appropriate customs officer may take possession of such merchandise and cause the same to be unladen at the expense and risk of the owners thereof, or may place one or more inspectors or other customs officers on board of said vessel or vehicle to protect the revenue. The compensation and expenses of any such inspector or customs officer for subsistence while on board of such vessel or vehicle shall be reimbursed to the Government by the owner or master of such vessel or vehicle.
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in R.S. §§2879, 2880 and 2969 (as amended by act May 9, 1896, ch. 164, 29 Stat. 115), which were superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, §456, 42 Stat. 955, and were repealed by section 642 thereof. Section 456 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 457 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.