Miami International Airport (MIA) consistently ranks among the top airports in the United States for CBP currency seizures. Between 2000 and 2016, federal law enforcement agencies seized more than $91 million in cash from travelers at MIA alone. Miami’s position as the primary gateway between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean makes it one of CBP’s most active enforcement environments for currency reporting violations — and one of the highest-stakes ports in the country for travelers who make a reporting mistake.
If CBP has seized your cash at Miami International Airport, act immediately. Do not call the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office to explain yourself. Do not write a letter without legal counsel. The process is adversarial, the deadlines are short, and what you say and how your case is presented will determine whether you get your money back.
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at Miami and at ports of entry nationwide. Read on to understand what happened, what comes next, and how we can help.
Why Miami Is a High-Enforcement Currency Port
Miami serves more international routes to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport. That volume, combined with well-documented patterns of bulk cash smuggling and currency trafficking on those trade corridors, makes MIA a priority enforcement location for CBP. Officers at Miami enforce both inbound and outbound currency reporting requirements — cash being exported without proper reporting is seized just as cash being imported without reporting.
Miami seizures also involve multiple agencies. The DEA maintains a significant presence at MIA and regularly seizes currency from travelers on suspicion of drug proceeds. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operates there as well. As in Atlanta, the agency that seized your money matters — the procedural path for contesting the seizure can differ depending on whether it was CBP, DEA, or another federal agency.
Common Reasons CBP Seizes Cash at Miami
Under 31 U.S.C. § 5316, anyone traveling internationally with more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments must file a FinCEN 105 form with CBP at the time of arrival or departure. Carrying the money is legal. Not reporting it is not. The most common violations that lead to seizures at MIA include:
- Failure to report — Not filing a FinCEN 105, or declaring an amount less than what was actually carried.
- Bulk cash smuggling — Concealing currency in luggage, clothing, cargo, or other containers with the intent to evade the reporting requirement. CBP’s outbound enforcement team at Miami regularly intercepts cash hidden inside furniture, shipped packages, and everyday items.
- Structuring — Dividing funds among traveling companions to keep individual amounts below $10,000. CBP treats a traveling family or group as a single reporting unit.
- Suspected connection to unlawful activity — Cash may be seized on suspicion of drug proceeds or money laundering even without a technical reporting violation, particularly in DEA and HSI-initiated seizures.
What Happens After a Miami Cash Seizure
At the time of seizure you will receive a Custody Receipt for Seized Property. Within 60 days, expect to receive a Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants from CBP’s Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office along with the Election of Proceedings form. This form asks you to choose how you want to contest the seizure. Your three options are:
- Administrative Petition for Remission or Mitigation — You ask CBP to return all or part of the money through an internal review process.
- CAFRA Seized Asset Claim — You formally contest the seizure and demand federal court action, shifting the burden to the government to prove forfeiture is warranted.
- Offer in Compromise — You propose a settlement, paying a portion in exchange for return of the remainder.
The right choice depends on your specific facts. An attorney who handles CBP seizure cases regularly will know which option gives you the best chance at a full recovery given the violation alleged and the evidence available. Read our detailed guide to the Election of Proceedings form and our analysis of which option is best.
Deadlines Are Critical
Once you receive your Notice of Seizure, you generally have 30 days to file an Election of Proceedings. Miss that deadline and CBP can proceed with administrative forfeiture — no court review, no recovery. Do not wait. Do not contact CBP without an attorney. Every statement you make without counsel becomes part of the record that CBP will use to support the forfeiture.
Read our guide on why you must remain silent after a seizure.
What Evidence You Will Need
Recovering seized cash from CBP requires demonstrating that the money came from a legitimate source and was intended for a lawful purpose. Evidence typically includes bank records and withdrawal history, tax returns, business records or contracts explaining the intended use, statements from employers or business partners, and any documentation specific to your circumstances — real estate transactions, vehicle purchases, business cash transactions, or other lawful explanations for carrying currency.
A well-organized, credible evidence package makes an enormous difference. Read our full guide to evidence and documentation for currency seizure cases.
Miami’s CBP Field Office
Currency seizures at Miami International Airport are processed through the CBP Miami Area Port (port code 5206). The FP&F office for the Miami field office handles administrative forfeiture proceedings, reviews petitions, and issues decisions on MIA seizures. Great Lakes Customs Law works with FP&F offices at ports nationwide, including Miami, and understands how these offices evaluate and decide cases.
Our Results at Miami and Nationwide
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at Miami International Airport and at ports across the country. Jason Wapiennik has handled more than 700 currency seizure cases and recovered more than $11 million for clients nationwide. You do not need a Miami-based attorney — you need the right customs attorney, and we represent clients at every major U.S. port of entry regardless of location.
See our currency seizure case results.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If CBP or another agency seized your cash at Miami International Airport, contact us now for a free currency seizure consultation. Time is working against you. The sooner we review your case, the more options we have to fight for a full recovery.
Read our full CBP Money Seizure Lawyer’s Guide or reach out directly using the contact options on this page.