Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act

The Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–407 (text) (PDF), 122 Stat. 4296, enacted October 23, 2008, was an act of the United States Congress outlawing operation of or travel in unregistered submersibles and semi-submersibles in international waters with the intent to evade detection.

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act

Long title	An Act to amend titles 46 and 18, United States Code, with respect to the operation of submersible vessels and semi-submersible vessels without nationality.
Acronyms (colloquial)	DTVIA
Nicknames	Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
Enacted by	the 110th United States Congress
Effective	October 13, 2008
Citations
Public law	110-407
Statutes at Large	122 Stat. 4296
Codification
Titles amended	18 U.S.C.: Crimes and Criminal Procedure 46 U.S.C.: Shipping
U.S.C. sections amended	18 U.S.C. ch. 111 §§ 2271, 2285 46 U.S.C. ch. 705 § 70501 et seq.
Legislative history
Introduced in the Senate as S. 3598 by Daniel Inouye (D-HI) on September 25, 2008 Committee consideration by House Judiciary, House Transportation and Infrastructure Passed the Senate on September 25, 2008 (Passed unanimous consent) Passed the House on September 29, 2008 (Passed voice vote) Signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 13, 2008

The act was enacted to combat the use of illicit self-propelled semi-submersible and submersible vessels in international drug trafficking (see narco-submarine).^[1] Notably, the act provides for extraterritorial jurisdiction.^[1] The law extended earlier legislation such as the Marijuana on the High Seas Act (MHSA) and Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA).^[1]