Us Code § 2283 - Transportation of explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear materials

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 2283 — Transportation of explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear materials, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 2283. Transportation of explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear materials

(a) In General.—Whoever knowingly transports aboard any vessel within the United States and on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or any vessel outside the United States and on the high seas or having United States nationality an explosive or incendiary device, biological agent, chemical weapon, or radioactive or nuclear material, knowing that any such item is intended to be used to commit an offense listed under section 2332b(g)(5)(B), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.

(b) Causing Death.—Any person who causes the death of a person by engaging in conduct prohibited by subsection (a) may be punished by death.

(c) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Biological agent.—The term "biological agent" means any biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178).

(2) By-product material.—The term "by-product material" has the meaning given that term in section 11(e) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(e)).

(3) Chemical weapon.—The term "chemical weapon" has the meaning given that term in section 229F(1).

(4) Explosive or incendiary device.—The term "explosive or incendiary device" has the meaning given the term in section 232(5) and includes explosive materials, as that term is defined in section 841(c) and explosive as defined in section 844(j).

(5) Nuclear material.—The term "nuclear material" has the meaning given that term in section 831(f)(1).1

(6) Radioactive material.—The term "radioactive material" means—

(A) source material and special nuclear material, but does not include natural or depleted uranium;

(B) nuclear by-product material;

(C) material made radioactive by bombardment in an accelerator; or

(D) all refined isotopes of radium.


(8) 2 Source material.—The term "source material" has the meaning given that term in section 11(z) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(z)).

(9) Special nuclear material.—The term "special nuclear material" has the meaning given that term in section 11(aa) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(aa)).

(Added Pub. L. 109–177, title III, §305(a), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 236.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 831(f)(1), referred to in subsec. (c)(5), was redesignated section 831(g)(1) by Pub. L. 114–23, title VIII, §812(d), June 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 312.

1 See References in Text note below.

2 So in original. No par. (7) has been enacted.

About This Section

18 U.S.C. § 2283 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 2283. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 2283

What does United States Code § 2283 cover?

Section 2283 ("Transportation of explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear materials") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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