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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1709. Definitions
When used in this Act:
(a) The term "United States", when used in a geographical sense,
includes all Territories and possessions of the United States,
except the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, Wake
Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the
island of Guam.
(b) The term "officer of the customs" means any officer of the
Customs Service or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of
the Coast Guard, or agent or other person authorized by law or by
the Secretary of the Treasury, or appointed in writing by a
collector, to perform the duties of an officer of the Customs
Service.
(c) The term "customs waters" means, in the case of a foreign
vessel subject to a treaty or other arrangement between a foreign
government and the United States enabling or permitting the
authorities of the United States to board, examine, search, seize,
or otherwise to enforce upon such vessel upon the high seas the
laws of the United States, the waters within such distance of the
coast of the United States as the said authorities are or may be so
enabled or permitted by such treaty or arrangement and, in the case
of every other vessel, the waters within four leagues of the coast
of the United States.
(d) The term "hovering vessel" means any vessel which is found or
kept off the coast of the United States within or without the
customs waters, 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 to introduce or promote or
facilitate the introduction or attempted introduction of
merchandise into the United States in violation of the laws
respecting the revenue.
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