Opinion ID: 460404
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Congress Contemplated Arrangements Regarding Specific Vessels

Text: 15 Much of our work already has been done. In United States v. Romero-Galue, 757 F.2d 1147 (11th Cir.1985), we held that Congress intended section 955a(c) to have extra-territorial effect, and that the statute did not violate international law. Romero-Galue also noted that section 955a(c) was based on the Anti-Smuggling Act. 4 16 In Romero-Galue, the panel discussed the purpose of the Anti-Smuggling Act: 17 Congress first formulated the definition of customs waters when it passed the Anti-Smuggling Act of 1935, 19 U.S.C. Secs. 1701-1711 (1982), to reduce the smuggling of liquor into the United States in contravention of our revenue laws. Prior to the passage of the Anti-Smuggling Act, the government could only prosecute smugglers in vessels seized within the statutory twelve-mile customs waters area; smuggling vessels could hover beyond that twelve-mile limit with impunity. The United States did have liquor treaties with sixteen nations, which allowed it to seize a treaty nation's vessel and to enforce the anti-smuggling laws if the vessel was caught within one hour's sailing distance of the coast of the United States, but these treaties were not self-executing. Absent statutory authority, the United States lacked the power to apply its penal laws to a treaty nation's vessel located outside the twelve-mile limit, yet within one hour's sailing distance from the shore. 18 Id. at 1152-53 (footnote and citations omitted). Congress therefore defined the term customs waters to include the waters within such distance of the coast of the United States as identified by treaty or other arrangement with a foreign government as an area within which the laws of the United States may be enforced. 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1709(c). In addition to setting forth a definition of customs waters that allowed the enforcement of this nation's anti-smuggling laws outward of twelve miles pursuant to a treaty, Congress created the concept of a customs enforcement area. 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1701. A customs enforcement area could be declared for one hundred miles around a particular vessel hovering off the coast of the United States and suspected of smuggling. A vessel is hovering if from the history, conduct, character, or location of the vessel, it is reasonable to believe that such vessel is being used or may be used for smuggling. 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1709(d). There is no requirement that the vessel be within a particular distance of the United States coast. 19 In Romero-Galue we held that Congress inserted the term arrangement in its definition of customs waters in the Anti-Smuggling Act to refer to arrangements setting forth a customs enforcement area. Id. at 1153. The arrangement extends customs waters to include those within the customs enforcement area. Accordingly, when Congress adopted the same definition of customs waters for the purposes of section 955a(c), it authorized enforcement beyond twelve miles both in waters designated by treaties and pursuant to arrangements concerning specific vessels. 5 20