Under 18 U.S.C. § 545, what does "smuggling" involve?

The term "smuggling" under 18 U.S.C. § 545 involves concealing, making false representations about, or preventing items from being seen to evade tariffs or regulations. This definition emphasizes the deceptive practices that are fundamental to smuggling activities, which include hiding or disguising the nature, quantity, or value of goods to avoid detection by customs officials or other authorities.

In the context of the law, smuggling is essentially about evasion and the intentional effort to prevent proper inspection of goods that may be subject to legal restrictions, duties, or other obligations. Therefore, the act of preventing items from being seen encapsulates the core aspect of what constitutes smuggling under this statute.