§ 1461. Inspection of merchandise and baggage

All merchandise and baggage imported or brought in from any contiguous country, except as otherwise provided by law or by regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall be unladen in the presence of and be inspected by a customs officer at the first port of entry at which the same shall arrive; and such officer may require the owner, or his agent, or other person having charge or possession of any trunk, traveling bag, sack, valise, or other container, or of any closed vehicle, to open the same for inspection, or to furnish a key or other means for opening the same.

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 461, 46 Stat. 717.)

Prior Provisions

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in R.S. § 3100, as amended by act Feb. 18, 1875, ch. 80, § 1, 18 Stat. 319, and act Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, § 1, 19 Stat. 248, which was superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 461, 42 Stat. 956, and was repealed by section 642 thereof. Section 461 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 461 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.