Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 552

Officers aiding importation of obscene or treasonous books and articles

Whoever, being an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, knowingly aids or abets any person engaged in any violation of any of the provisions of law prohibiting importing, advertising, dealing in, exhibiting, or sending or receiving by mail obscene or indecent publications or representations, or books, pamphlets, papers, writings, advertisements, circulars, prints, pictures, or drawings containing any matter advocating or urging treason or insurrection against the United States or forcible resistance to any law of the United States, or containing any threat to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon any person in the United States, or means for procuring abortion, or other articles of indecent or immoral use or tendency, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

June 25, 1948, ch. 645 62 Stat. 718 Pub. L. 91–662, § 284 Stat. 1973 Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K)108 Stat. 2147 (, ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

section 1305(b) of title 19June 17, 1930, ch. 497 46 Stat. 688 Based on , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (, title III, § 305(b), ).

section 1 of this titleIn view of definition of misdemeanor in words “shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and” were omitted.

section 1 of this titleWords “at hard labor” after “imprisonment” were omitted. (See reviser’s note under .)

Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–3221994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Pub. L. 91–6621971— struck out “preventing conception or” before “procuring abortion”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–662, § 784 Stat. 1974

section 1305 of Title 19“The amendments made by this Act (other than by section 6) [amending this section, sections 1461 and 1462 of this title, and , Customs Duties] shall take effect on the day after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that: