19 U.S.C. § 1616a | Disposition of forfeited property

(a)

State proceedings

The Secretary of the Treasury may discontinue forfeiture proceedings under this chapter in favor of forfeiture under State law. If a complaint for forfeiture is filed under this chapter, the Attorney General may seek dismissal of the complaint in favor of forfeiture under State law.

(b)

Transfer of seized property; notice

If forfeiture proceedings are discontinued or dismissed under this section—

(1)

the United States may transfer the seized property to the appropriate State or local official; and

(2)

notice of the discontinuance or dismissal shall be provided to all known interested parties.

(c)

Retention or transfer of forfeited property

(1)

The Secretary of the Treasury may apply property forfeited under this chapter in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B), or both:

(A)

Retain any of the property for official use.

(B)

Transfer any of the property to—

(i)

any other Federal agency;

(ii)

any State or local law enforcement agency that participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property; or

(iii)

the Civil Air Patrol.

(2)

The Secretary may transfer any forfeited personal property or the proceeds of the sale of any forfeited personal or real property to any foreign country which participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property, if such a transfer—

(A)

has been agreed to by the Secretary of State;

(B)

is authorized in an international agreement between the United States and the foreign country; and

(C)

section 2291j(b) of title 22 is made to a country which, if applicable, has been certified under .

(3)

Aircraft may be transferred to the Civil Air Patrol under paragraph (1)(B)(iii) in support of air search and rescue and other emergency services and, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding entered into with a Federal agency, illegal drug traffic surveillance. Jet-powered aircraft may not be transferred to the Civil Air Patrol under the authority of paragraph (1)(B)(iii).

(d)

Liability of United States after transfer

The United States shall not be liable in any action relating to property transferred under this section if such action is based on an act or omission occurring after the transfer.

June 17, 1930, ch. 497 Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 213(a)(14)Oct. 30, 198498 Stat. 2987 Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1863(a)Oct. 27, 1986100 Stat. 3207–54 Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7366(a)Nov. 18, 1988102 Stat. 4478 Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e)Dec. 7, 1989103 Stat. 1834 Pub. L. 103–447, title I, § 102(c)Nov. 2, 1994108 Stat. 4693(, title IV, § 616, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

June 17, 1930Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 318Oct. 12, 198498 Stat. 2055 section 1616 of this titleAnother section 616 of act , as added by , , , was classified to and subsequently repealed.

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–447 section 2291j(b) of title 22 section 2291(h) of title 221994—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e)(1)1989—Subsec. (c)(1)(B). , amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “Transfer any of the property to any—

“(i) other Federal agency; or

“(ii) State or local law enforcement agency that participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.”

Pub. L. 101–207, § 3(e)(2)Subsec. (c)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 100–6901988—Subsec. (c). amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “The Secretary of the Treasury may transfer any property forfeited under this chapter to any other Federal agency or to any State or local law enforcement agency which participated directly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.”

Pub. L. 99–5701986—Subsec. (c). inserted “any other Federal agency or to” after “property forfeited under this chapter to”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7366(b)Nov. 18, 1988102 Stat. 4479

Nov. 18, 1988“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] applies with respect to property forfeited under the Tariff Act of 1930 [this chapter] on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”

, , , provided that:

Effective Date

Oct. 15, 1984section 214(e) of Pub. L. 98–573 section 1304 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note under .