In our 15 years of helping people with cash seized by Customs, we have determined that, among all the ports in the nation, Customs in Detroit is aggressive when it comes to the enforcement of the FinCen 105 form cash reporting requirements.
What makes cash reporting enforcement aggressive by customs at Detroit Metro Airport?
Though I am (fairly) sure there are fine officers at Detroit Customs who accept a good faith effort by travelers to accurately report how much cash they are carrying, I am absolutely certain there are some who do not.
In other words, an officer acting in good faith might accept a good faith declaration of $11,500 when some in fact has $12,500. They might give them an opportunity to count the money and time fill out and complete a FinCen 105 form, and let them travel with their cash. Others will not; others will use the misdeclaration as an opportunity to seize the money, even if they discern there is not intent by the person to avoid the reporting requirement.
An aggressive officer faith might seize the cash of someone who has $10,000 in their pants pocket and another $1 they forgot stashed away in their toiletry bag. It has happened to our clients. Then they might have a celebration in front of the aggrieved traveler, causing them to feel small and like a criminal.
I only say this as means of introducing a few recent X posts by the DFO Detroit about 4 currency seizures, all of which occured in January 2025.
What kind of cash seizures are happening at Detroit Metro Airport?
First, a pair of $43,000 customs seizures happened on January 7:
More than $43,000 in undeclared/misreported currency was seized by #DetroitMetroAirport @CBP officers, Jan. 7. Keep your cash – ACCURATELY report the amount you are entering or leaving the U.S. with. pic.twitter.com/6gaUgRKScR
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) January 16, 2025
Then, a week later, Detroit customs seized $14,000:
#DetroitMetroAirport @CBP officers seized more than $14K in misreported #cash from an arriving U.S. citizen, Jan. 13. Currency over $10,000 is fine, but it must be accurately reported when arriving to or departing from the U.S. pic.twitter.com/i3MBPN6R08
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) January 21, 2025
Last for the month, $18,000 was seized from a traveler returning from Vietnam:
More than $18K in undeclared #currency was seized from an inbound Vietnamese citizen/U.S. lawful permanent resident at #DetroitMetroAirport, Jan. 20. The traveler told @CBP officers he intentionally omitted the cash that was given to him to transport to other family members. pic.twitter.com/zPzzPcFuuy
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) January 24, 2025
The take-away? Report the cash, both coming and going!
Take Back Control of Your Money Today
Don’t let a failure to report cash to Customs ruin your travel plans or financial stability. At Great Lakes Customs Law, we understand the complexities and emotional stress that come with currency seizures. We have the experience and are here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for your rights.
Act Now to Protect Your Cash
- Contact Us for a Free Consultation: Lets discuss your case and explore your legal options. We will listen to your story, understand your needs, and develop a tailored strategy to recover your seized money.
- Gather Your Documentation: Start collecting all relevant documents, such as bank statements and tax returns, to support your case. We will guide you on the best way to present this information.
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