U.S. Marshals Role During Prohibition

Deputy U.S. Marshals in Alaska destroy liquor to enforce wartime prohibition laws during World War I.

In 1920 the 18th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages within the United States. U.S. Marshals were the principal enforcing agents of the Prohibition laws until the Treasury Department created the Bureau of Prohibition in 1927.

Marshals continued to work in conjunction with special agents from this agency-as well as those from the Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Customs-throughout the prohibition era.