Call Us + 33 1 84 88 31 00

Article 415 of the French Customs Code

Those who, by export, import, transfer or set-off, carry out or attempt to carry out a financial transaction between France and a foreign country involving funds that they knew to be derived, directly or indirectly, from an offence provided for by any legislation that customs officers are required to enforce, shall be punished by ten years’ imprisonment, confiscation of the sums involved in the offence or a sum in lieu thereof where seizure could not be ordered, confiscation of property used to commit the offence or intended for use in committing the offence, confiscation of property and assets that are the direct or indirect proceeds of the offence and a fine of between one and five times the sum involved in the offence or attempted offence, carried out or attempted to carry out a financial transaction between France and a foreign country involving funds which they knew to be derived, directly or indirectly, from an offence under any legislation which customs officers are responsible for enforcing or which is detrimental to the financial interests of the European Union, or from an offence under legislation on poisonous substances or plants classified as narcotics, including if the activities from which the funds originated were carried out in the territory of another Member State of the European Union or in that of a third country.

This article also applies to

1° To the transport and collection of funds of illicit origin, within the meaning of the first paragraph, which are carried out in the customs territory ;

2° Where the transaction relates to digital assets mentioned inArticle L. 54-10-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code.

The fine provided for in the first paragraph may be up to ten times the amount involved in the offence or attempted offence when committed by an organised gang.

Original in French 🇫🇷
Article 415

Seront punis d’un emprisonnement de dix ans, de la confiscation des sommes en infraction ou d’une somme en tenant lieu lorsque la saisie n’a pas pu être prononcée, de la confiscation des biens ayant servi à commettre l’infraction ou qui étaient destinés à la commettre, de la confiscation des biens et avoirs qui sont le produit direct ou indirect de l’infraction et d’une amende comprise entre une et cinq fois la somme sur laquelle a porté l’infraction ou la tentative d’infraction ceux qui auront, par exportation, importation, transfert ou compensation, procédé ou tenté de procéder à une opération financière entre la France et l’étranger portant sur des fonds qu’ils savaient provenir, directement ou indirectement, d’un délit prévu par toute législation que les agents des douanes sont chargés d’appliquer ou portant atteinte aux intérêts financiers de l’Union européenne, ou d’une infraction à la législation sur les substances ou plantes vénéneuses classées comme stupéfiants, y compris si les activités à l’origine de ces fonds ont été exercées sur le territoire d’un autre Etat membre de l’Union européenne ou sur celui d’un Etat tiers.

Le présent article est également applicable :

1° Aux opérations de transport et de collecte des fonds d’origine illicite, au sens du premier alinéa, qui sont réalisées sur le territoire douanier ;

2° Lorsque l’opération se rapporte à des actifs numériques mentionnés à l’article L. 54-10-1 du code monétaire et financier.

L’amende prévue au premier alinéa peut aller jusqu’à dix fois la somme sur laquelle a porté l’infraction ou la tentative d’infraction lorsque celle-ci est commise en bande organisée.

Need help with this article? Get help from a French lawyer

Our French business lawyers are here to help.
We offer a FREE evaluation of your case.
Call us at +33 (0) 1 84 88 31 00 or send us an email.

Useful links

You have a question in French Business Law?

Our French business lawyers are here to help.
We offer a FREE evaluation of your case.
Call +33 (0) 1 84 88 31 00 or send us an email.

All information exchanged through this website will be communicated to lawyers registered with a French Bar and will remain confidential.