---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3271"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3271"
heading: "Trafficking in persons offenses committed by persons employed by or accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3271"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 212A — Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Over Certain Offenses"
---

# §3271. Trafficking in persons offenses committed by persons employed by or accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States

- (a) Whoever, while employed by or [accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States](/usc/18/3272.md?p=2), engages in conduct outside the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) that would constitute an offense under chapter [77](/usc/18/chptI-ch77.md) or [117](/usc/18/chptI-ch117.md) of this title if the conduct had been engaged in within the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) or within the [special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/18/7.md) shall be punished as provided for that offense.
- (b) No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this section if a [foreign government](/usc/18/11.md), in accordance with jurisdiction recognized by the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting such offense, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General (or a person acting in either such capacity), which function of approval may not be delegated.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–164, title I, § 103(a)(1), Jan. 10, 2006, 119 Stat. 3562.)