PUBLIC LAW 96-350—SEPT. 15, 1980
94 STAT. 1159
Public Law 96-350 96th Congress An Act To facilitate increased enforcement by the Coast Guard of laws relating to the importation of controlled substances, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) it is unlawful for any person on board a vessel of the United States, or on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States on the high seas, to knowingly or intentionally manufacture or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance. (b) It is unlawful for a citizen of the United States on board any vessel to knowingly or intentionally manufacture or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance. (c) It is unlawful for any person on board any vessel within the customs waters of the United States to knowingly or intentionally manufacture or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance. (d) It is unlawful for any person to possess, manufacture, or distribute a controlled substance— (1) intending that it be unlawfully imported into the United States; or (2) knowing that it will be unlawfully imported into the United States. (e) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to a common or contract carrier, or an employee thereof, who possesses or distributes a controlled substance in the lawful and usual course of the carrier's business or to a public vessel of the United States, or any person on board such a vessel who possesses or distributes a controlled substance in the lawful course of his duties, if the controlled substance is a part of the cargo entered in the vessel's manifest and is intended to be lawfully imported into the country of destination for scientific, medical, or other legitimate purposes. It shall not be necessary for the United States to negative the exception set forth in this subsection in any complaint, information, indictment, or other pleading or in any trial or other proceeding. The burden of going forward with the evidence with respect to this exception is upon the person claiming its benefit. (0 Any person who violates this section shall be tried in the United States district court at the point of entry where that person enters the United States, or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. (g)(1) Any person who commits an offense defined in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall be punished in accordance with the penalties set forth in section 1010 of the Comprehensive Act. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, any person convicted of an offense under this Act shall be punished in accordance with the penalties set forth in section 1012 of the Comprehensive
Sept. 15, 1980 [H.R. 2538] Coast Guard. Enforcement of importation laws. 21 USC 955a.
Lawful distribution of controlled substances.
Violations.
Penalties. 21 USC 960.
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