SMUGGLING (from smuggle, LGer. smug grin, to smuggle; connected with Icel. smjaga, to creep through a bole, AS. smeogan, arnfigan, to creep. Ger. schmiegen, to cling to. bend, get into, OChurch Slay. aimy/,•ati, to crawl. Lith.
to glide). The act of importing or ing goods from a country in violation of law. Such infringement of the laws is defined by the United States statutes substantially as fol lows: To "knowingly and willfully, with intent to defraud the revenue of the United States, smuggle or introduce into the United States any goods, wares, or merchandise subject to duty; and which should have been invoiced. without paying or accounting for the duty," or to "make out or pass, or• attempt to pass, through the custom house any false. forged, or fraudulent invoice." A person convicted of either of above acts is "guilty of a misdemeanor and . . . shall he fined in any sum not exceeding five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for any length of time not ex ceeding two years. or both." Tt is necessary to
prove intent and knowledge of the wrongful act in order to convict a person under the statute, and the defense of innocent intention is often successful in preventing prosecution. Conceal ment of dutiable articles in baggage is punish able by the forfeiture of such articles and the persons guilty of the fraud are liable tc.- a penalty of treble the value of them. The court may in proceedings other than criminal, arising un der the revenue laws, direct the defendant to prodnce in court all bills of lading, invoices, books, etc., relating to the importation of the goods in question. Smuggled property is con demned and sold and the proceeds, after payment of costs and rewards for information, if ally, are paid into the United States Treasury.