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Criminal Resource Manual

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Criminal Resource Manual
CRM 1000-1499

1442. Plastic Explosives Convention

The Antiterrorism Act of 1996, at Title VI, 110 Stat. at 1287-90, made it unlawful for any person to manufacture plastic explosives, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 841(q), without a "detection agent" specified in section 841(p). 18 U.S.C. § 842(l). The Act also makes it unlawful to import or otherwise bring into the United States, or export from the United states, any such plastic explosive, 18 U.S.C. § 842(m); or to ship, transport, transfer, receive, or possess any such plastic explosive, 18 U.S.C. § 842(n). These provisions apply only to offenses occurring on or after April 24, 1997.

Subsection (o) requires non-federal persons possessing on the date of enactment (April 24, 1996) plastic explosives to report to ATF the quantity, manufacturer, and identifying marks on such explosives no later than August 22, 1996.

The Antiterrorism Act of 1996, § 605, 110 Stat. at 1289-90, created section 845(c) of Title 18, which sets forth specified affirmative defenses for violations of the new plastic explosives offenses.

[cited in JM 9-63.900]