Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 45–47, 51, 52, 66, 67, 104, and on title 33, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 755 (R.S. 2747, 2758, 2760, 2762; June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 4, 20 Stat. 163; June 16, 1880, ch. 235, 21 Stat. 263; June 22, 1936, ch. 705, §§ 1–3, 49 Stat. 1820; July 11, 1941, ch. 290, § 7, 55 Stat. 585).

The words “or such merchandise” are inserted in the last clause of subsection (a) in order to provide for situations where it may be desirable to seize merchandise without seizing the vessel.

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

1950—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 3, 1950, struck out “to” before “examine” in second sentence.

Pub. L. 104–324, title I, § 103, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3905, as amended by Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 901(p)(1), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 565, provided that: “Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on all expenditures related to drug interdiction activities of the Coast Guard on an annual basis.”

Pub. L. 99–145, title XIV, § 1421, Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 750, required assignment of a member of the Coast Guard to each surface naval vessel at sea in a drug-interdiction area to perform law enforcement functions, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3053(b)(3), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–76. See section 379 of Title 10, Armed Forces.