U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 972g. Enforcement

(a) Warrants

The judges of the United States district courts and United States magistrate judges may, within their respective jurisdictions, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue such warrants or other process as may be required for enforcement of this chapter and the regulations issued under section 972e of this title.

(b) Joint responsibility for enforcement

The enforcement of this chapter and the regulations issued under section 972e of this title shall be the joint responsibility of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Department of Commerce, and the United States Customs Service. In addition, the Secretary of Commerce may designate officers and employees of the States of the United States, of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and of American Samoa to carry out enforcement activities under this section. When so designated, such officers and employees may function as Federal law enforcement agents for these purposes.

An individual authorized to carry out enforcement activities under this section has power to execute any warrant or process issued by any officer or court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of this chapter.

(d) Arrest; search

An individual so authorized to carry out enforcement activities under this section has power—

(1) with or without a warrant or other process, to arrest any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States at any place within the jurisdiction of the United States committing in his presence or view a violation of this chapter or the regulations issued under section 972e of this title;

(2) with or without a warrant or other process, to search any vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and, if, as a result of the search he has reasonable cause to believe that such vessel or any individual on board is engaging in operations in violation of this chapter or any regulation issued thereunder to arrest such person.

(e) Seizure

An individual authorized to enforce this chapter may seize, whenever or wherever lawfully found, all species of designated tuna taken or retained in violation of this chapter or the regulations issued under section 972e of this title. Any species so seized may be disposed of pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, under subsection (f) of this section or, if perishable, in a manner prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of Commerce.

(f) Bond or stipulation for value of the property

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2464 of title 28, when a warrant of arrest or other process in rem is issued in any cause under this section, the marshal or other officer shall stay the execution of such process, or discharge any species of designated tuna seized if the process has been levied, on receiving from the claimant of the species a bond or stipulation for the value of the property with sufficient surety to be approved by a judge of the district court having jurisdiction of the offense, conditioned to deliver the species seized, if condemned, without impairment in value or, in the discretion of the court, to pay its equivalent value in money or otherwise to answer the decree of the court in such cause. Such bond or stipulation shall be returned to the court and judgment thereon against both the principal and sureties may be recovered in event of any breach of the conditions thereof as determined by the court. In the discretion of the accused, and subject to the direction of the court, the species may be sold for not less than its reasonable market value and the proceeds of such sale placed in the registry of the court pending judgment in the case.

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