USC Chapter 24

USC Chapter 24
in effect

21 U.S.C. § 1901 Findings and policy

(a) FindingsCongress makes the following findings:(1) Presidential Decision Directive 42, issued on October 21, 1995, ordered agencies of the executive branch of the United States Government to, inter alia, increase the priority and resources devoted to the direct and immediate threat international crime presents to national security, work more closely with other governments to develop a global response to this threat, and use aggressively and creatively all legal means available to combat international crime. (2) Executive Order No. 12978 of October 21, 1995, provides for the use of the authorities in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to target and apply sanctions to four international narcotics traffickers and their organizations that operate from Colombia. (3) IEEPA was successfully applied to international narcotics traffickers in Colombia and based on that successful case study, Congress believes similar authorities should be applied worldwide. (4) There is a national emergency resulting from the activities of international narcotics traffickers and their organizations that threatens the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. (b) PolicyIt shall be the policy of the United States to apply economic and other financial sanctions to significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations worldwide to protect the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States from the threat described in subsection (a)(4).

21 U.S.C. § 1902 Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to provide authority for the identification of, and application of sanctions on a worldwide basis to, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their organizations, and the foreign persons who provide support to those significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations, whose activities threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

21 U.S.C. § 1903 Public identification of significant foreign narcotics traffickers and required reports

(a) Provision of information to the PresidentThe Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of Central Intelligence shall consult among themselves and provide the appropriate and necessary information to enable the President to submit the report under subsection (b). This information shall also be provided to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (b) Public identification and sanctioning of significant foreign narcotics traffickersNot later than June 1, 2000, and not later than June 1 of each year thereafter, the President shall submit a report to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, International Relations, Armed Services, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and to the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Finance of the Senate—(1) identifying publicly the foreign persons that the President determines are appropriate for sanctions pursuant to this chapter; and (2) detailing publicly the President’s intent to impose sanctions upon these significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to this chapter. The report required in this subsection shall not include information on persons upon which United States sanctions imposed under this chapter, or otherwise on account of narcotics trafficking, are already in effect. (c) Unclassified report requiredThe report required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form and made available to the public. (d) Classified report(1) Not later than July 1, 2000, and not later than July 1 of each year thereafter, the President shall provide the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate with a report in classified form describing in detail the status of the sanctions imposed under this chapter, including the personnel and resources directed towards the imposition of such sanctions during the preceding fiscal year, and providing background information with respect to newly-identified significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their activities. (2) Such classified report shall describe actions the President intends to undertake or has undertaken with respect to such significant foreign narcotics traffickers. (3) The report required under this subsection is in addition to the President’s obligations to keep the intelligence committees of Congress fully and currently informed pursuant to the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947. (e) Exclusion of certain information(1) IntelligenceNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, the reports described in subsections (b) and (d) shall not disclose the identity of any person, if the Director of Central Intelligence determines that such disclosure could compromise an intelligence operation, activity, source, or method of the United States. (2) Law enforcementNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, the reports described in subsections (b) and (d) shall not disclose the name of any person if the Attorney General, in coordination as appropriate with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Secretary of the Treasury, determines that such disclosure could reasonably be expected to—(A) compromise the identity of a confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution that furnished information on a confidential basis; (B) jeopardize the integrity or success of an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution; (C) endanger the life or physical safety of any person; or (D) cause substantial harm to physical property. (f) Notification required(1) Whenever either the Director of Central Intelligence or the Attorney General makes a determination under subsection (e), the Director of Central Intelligence or the Attorney General shall notify the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and explain the reasons for such determination. (2) The notification required under this subsection shall be submitted to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate not later than July 1, 2000, and on an annual basis thereafter. (g) Determinations not to apply sanctions(1) The President may waive the application to a significant foreign narcotics trafficker of any sanction authorized by this chapter if the President determines that the application of sanctions under this chapter would significantly harm the national security of the United States. (2) When the President determines not to apply sanctions that are authorized by this chapter to any significant foreign narcotics trafficker, the President shall notify the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, International Relations, Armed Services, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Finance of the Senate not later than 21 days after making such determination. (h) Changes in determinations to impose sanctions(1) Additional determinations(A) If at any time after the report required under subsection (b) the President finds that a foreign person is a significant foreign narcotics trafficker and such foreign person has not been publicly identified in a report required under subsection (b), the President shall submit an additional public report containing the information described in subsection (b) with respect to such foreign person to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, International Relations, Armed Services, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Finance of the Senate. (B) The President may apply sanctions authorized under this chapter to the significant foreign narcotics trafficker identified in the report submitted under subparagraph (A) as if the trafficker were originally included in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. (C) The President shall notify the Secretary of the Treasury of any determination made under this paragraph. (2) Revocation of determination(A) Whenever the President finds that a foreign person that has been publicly identified as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker in the report required under subsection (b) or this subsection no longer engages in those activities for which sanctions under this chapter may be applied, the President shall issue public notice of such a finding. (B) Not later than the date of the public notice issued pursuant to subparagraph (A), the President shall notify, in writing and in classified or unclassified form, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, International Relations, Armed Services, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Finance of the Senate of actions taken under this paragraph and a description of the basis for such actions. (i) Protection of classified information in Federal court challenges relating to designationsIn any judicial review of a determination made under this section, if the determination was based on classified information (as defined in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act) such information may be submitted to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera. This subsection does not confer or imply any right to judicial review.

21 U.S.C. § 1904 Blocking assets and prohibiting transactions

(a) Applicability of sanctionsA significant foreign narcotics trafficker publicly identified in the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title and foreign persons designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to any and all sanctions as authorized by this chapter. The application of sanctions on any foreign person pursuant to subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title or subsection (b) of this section shall remain in effect until revoked pursuant to section 1903(h)(2) of this title or subsection (e)(1)(A) of this section or waived pursuant to section 1903(g)(1) of this title. (b) Blocking of assetsExcept to the extent provided in regulations, orders, instructions, licenses, or directives issued pursuant to this chapter, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date on which the President submits the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title, there are blocked as of such date, and any date thereafter, all such property and interests in property within the United States, or within the possession or control of any United States person, which are owned or controlled by—(1) any significant foreign narcotics trafficker publicly identified by the President in the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title; (2) any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, designates as materially assisting in, or providing financial or technological support for or to, or providing goods or services in support of, the international narcotics trafficking activities of a significant foreign narcotics trafficker so identified in the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title, or foreign persons designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to this subsection; (3) any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, designates as owned, controlled, or directed by, or acting for or on behalf of, a significant foreign narcotics trafficker so identified in the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title, or foreign persons designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to this subsection; and (4) any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, designates as playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. (c) Prohibited transactionsExcept to the extent provided in regulations, orders, instructions, licenses, or directives issued pursuant to this chapter, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date on which the President submits the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title, the following transactions are prohibited:(1) Any transaction or dealing by a United States person, or within the United States, in property or interests in property of any significant foreign narcotics trafficker so identified in the report required pursuant to subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title, and foreign persons designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. (2) Any transaction or dealing by a United States person, or within the United States, that evades or avoids, or has the effect of evading or avoiding, and any endeavor, attempt, or conspiracy to violate, any of the prohibitions contained in this chapter. (d) Law enforcement and intelligence activities not affectedNothing in this chapter prohibits or otherwise limits the authorized law enforcement or intelligence activities of the United States, or the law enforcement activities of any State or subdivision thereof. (e) Implementation(1) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, is authorized to take such actions as may be necessary to carry out this chapter, including—(A) making those designations authorized by paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) of this section and revocation thereof; (B) promulgating rules and regulations permitted under this chapter; and (C) employing all powers conferred on the Secretary of the Treasury under this chapter. (2) Each agency of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within its authority to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (3) Section 552(a)(3) of title 5 shall not apply to any record or information obtained or created in the implementation of this chapter.

21 U.S.C. § 1905 Authorities

(a) In generalTo carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of the Treasury may, under such regulations as he may prescribe, by means of instructions, licenses, or otherwise—(1) investigate, regulate, or prohibit—(A) any transactions in foreign exchange, currency, or securities; and (B) transfers of credit or payments between, by, through, or to any banking institution, to the extent that such transfers or payments involve any interests of any foreign country or a national thereof; and (2) investigate, block during the pendency of an investigation, regulate, direct and compel, nullify, void, prevent, or prohibit any acquisition, holding, withholding, use, transfer, withdrawal, transportation, placement into foreign or domestic commerce of, or dealing in, or exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to, or transactions involving, any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof has any interest, by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (b) RecordkeepingPursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury may require recordkeeping, reporting, and production of documents to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (c) Defenses(1) Full and actual compliance with any regulation, order, license, instruction, or direction issued under this chapter shall be a defense in any proceeding alleging a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. (2) No person shall be held liable in any court for or with respect to anything done or omitted in good faith in connection with the administration of, or pursuant to, and in reliance on this chapter, or any regulation, instruction, or direction issued under this chapter. (d) RulemakingThe Secretary of the Treasury may issue such other regulations or orders, including regulations prescribing recordkeeping, reporting, and production of documents, definitions, licenses, instructions, or directions, as may be necessary for the exercise of the authorities granted by this chapter.

21 U.S.C. § 1906 Enforcement

(a) Criminal penalties(1) Whoever willfully violates the provisions of this chapter, or any license rule, or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter, or willfully neglects or refuses to comply with any order of the President issued under this chapter shall be—(A) imprisoned for not more than 10 years, (B) fined in the amount provided in title 18 or, in the case of an entity, fined not more than $10,000,000, or both. (2) Any officer, director, or agent of any entity who knowingly participates in a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be imprisoned for not more than 30 years, fined not more than $5,000,000, or both. (b) Civil penaltiesA civil penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 may be imposed by the Secretary of the Treasury on any person who violates any license, order, rule, or regulation issued in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (c) Judicial review of civil penaltyAny penalty imposed under subsection (b) shall be subject to judicial review only to the extent provided in section 702 of title 5.

21 U.S.C. § 1907 Definitions

As used in this chapter: (1) EntityThe term “entity” means a partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, organization, network, group, or subgroup, or any form of business collaboration. (2) Foreign personThe term “foreign person” means any citizen or national of a foreign state or any entity not organized under the laws of the United States, but does not include a foreign state. (3) Narcotics traffickingThe term “narcotics trafficking” means any illicit activity to cultivate, produce, manufacture, distribute, sell, finance, or transport narcotic drugs, controlled substances, or listed chemicals, or otherwise endeavor or attempt to do so, or to assist, abet, conspire, or collude with others to do so. (4) Narcotic drug; controlled substance; listed chemicalThe terms “narcotic drug”, “controlled substance”, and “listed chemical” have the meanings given those terms in section 802 of this title. (5) PersonThe term “person” means an individual or entity. (6) United States personThe term “United States person” means any United States citizen or national, permanent resident alien, an entity organized under the laws of the United States (including its foreign branches), or any person within the United States. (7) Significant foreign narcotics traffickerThe term “significant foreign narcotics trafficker” means any foreign person that plays a significant role in international narcotics trafficking, that the President has determined to be appropriate for sanctions pursuant to this chapter, and that the President has publicly identified in the report required under subsection (b) or (h)(1) of section 1903 of this title.

21 U.S.C. § 1908 Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control

(a) EstablishmentThere is established a commission to be known as the “Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control” (in this section referred to as the “Commission”). (b) Membership and procedural matters(1) The Commission shall be composed of five members, as follows:(A) One member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (B) One member shall be appointed by the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (C) One member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (D) One member shall be appointed by the Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (E) One member shall be appointed jointly by the members appointed under subparagraphs (A) through (D). (2) Each member of the Commission shall, for purposes of the activities of the Commission under this section, possess or obtain an appropriate security clearance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations regarding the handling of classified information. (3) The members of the Commission shall choose the chairman of the Commission from among the members of the Commission. (4) The members of the Commission shall establish rules governing the procedures and proceedings of the Commission. (c) DutiesThe Commission shall have as its duties the following:(1) To conduct a review of the current judicial, regulatory, and administrative authorities relating to the blocking of assets of foreign persons by the United States Government. (2) To conduct a detailed examination and evaluation of the remedies available to United States persons affected by the blocking of assets of foreign persons by the United States Government. (d) Powers(1) The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this section. (2) The Commission may secure directly from any executive department, agency, bureau, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this section. Each such department, agency, bureau, board, commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request of the chairman of the Commission. The Commission shall handle and protect all classified information provided to it under this section in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. (3) The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the Commission, on a nonreimbursable basis, such administrative services, funds, facilities, and other support services as are necessary for the performance of the Commission’s duties under this section. (4) The Commission shall receive the full and timely cooperation of any official, department, or agency of the United States Government whose assistance is necessary for the fulfillment of the duties of the Commission under this section, including the provision of full and current briefings and analyses. (5) No department or agency of the Government may withhold information from the Commission on the grounds that providing the information to the Commission would constitute the unauthorized disclosure of classified information or information relating to intelligence sources or methods. (6) The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as the departments and agencies of the United States. (e) Staff(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the chairman of the Commission, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, shall appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties, without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III or 11 So in original. Probably should be “of”. chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. (2)(A) Any employee of a department or agency referred to in subparagraph (B) may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption. (B) The departments and agencies referred to in this subparagraph are as follows:(i) The Department of Justice. (ii) The Department of the Treasury. (iii) The Central Intelligence Agency. (3) All staff of the Commission shall possess a security clearance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations concerning the handling of classified information. (f) Compensation and travel expenses(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each member of the Commission may be compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5 for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission under this section. (B) Members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall receive no additional pay by reason of their service on the Commission. (2) While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the Commission may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 22 So in original. Section 5703 of title 5 does not contain a subsec. (b). of title 5. (g) Report(1) Not later than 1 year after December 3, 1999, the Commissions 33 So in original. Probably should be “Commission”. shall submit to the committees of Congress referred to in paragraph (4) a report on the activities of the Commission under this section, including the findings, conclusions, and recommendations, if any, of the Commission as a result of the review under subsection (c)(1) and the examination and evaluation under subsection (c)(2). (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall include any additional or dissenting views of a member of the Commission upon the request of the member. (3) The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (4) The committees of Congress referred to in this paragraph are the following:(A) The Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committees on Foreign Relations and the Judiciary of the Senate. (B) The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committees on International Relations and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (h) TerminationThe Commission shall terminate at the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the report required by subsection (g) is submitted to the committees of Congress referred to in that subsection. (i) Inapplicability of certain administrative provisions(1) The provisions of chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the activities of the Commission under this section. (2) The provisions of section 552 of title 5 (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act) shall not apply to the activities, records, and proceedings of the Commission under this chapter. (j) FundingThe Attorney General shall, from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General by this Act, make available to the Commission $1,000,000 for purposes of the activities of the Commission under this section. Amounts made available to the Commission under the preceding sentence shall remain available until expended.