Here’s What to Do.
Los Angeles International Airport is the busiest international passenger gateway in the western United States, processing tens of millions of international travelers each year across routes to Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. That volume makes LAX one of the highest-enforcement airports in the country for currency seizures. CBP officers at LAX operate alongside agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and enforcement at the Tom Bradley International Terminal is active in both directions — arrivals and departures alike.
If CBP or any federal agency has seized your cash at LAX, the clock is already running. Do not call the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office to explain yourself. Do not submit any written statement without legal counsel. What you say and how your case is presented will have a direct bearing on whether you recover your money.
Great Lakes Customs Law represents clients with currency seizures at LAX and at ports of entry nationwide. Read on to understand exactly what happened, what you are facing, and what your options are.
Why LAX Is a High-Enforcement Currency Airport
LAX handles more international passengers than any other airport on the West Coast, with direct routes to China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Central America, South America, India, and beyond. The route profile matters for currency enforcement. Transpacific routes — especially those connecting LAX to China and Southeast Asia — have historically been associated with elevated rates of unreported currency, driven in part by capital controls in countries that restrict how much money citizens can move through official channels. Latin American routes bring a separate enforcement focus, with both inbound and outbound cash flows subject to scrutiny.
The CBP Los Angeles Field Office oversees not just LAX but the entire Southern California enforcement zone, including the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex — one of the busiest cargo ports in the world — as well as Ontario International Airport and other regional ports of entry. The FP&F office that handles LAX seizures manages a high caseload, and understanding how that office evaluates cases is essential to presenting your petition effectively.
Multi-agency enforcement at LAX means your seizure may have been initiated not by CBP but by DEA or HSI agents, sometimes operating on tips from TSA officers who spotted large amounts of currency during baggage screening. The agency that initiates the seizure affects which forfeiture process applies and which deadlines govern your case — another reason to consult an experienced customs attorney before taking any action.
Common Reasons CBP Seizes Cash at LAX
Under 31 U.S.C. § 5316, any person 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. The requirement applies equally to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, and to both cash and negotiable instruments such as traveler’s checks and money orders. The most common violations at LAX include:
- Failure to report on arrival — Travelers arriving from Asia, Latin America, or other international destinations who do not declare currency over $10,000. This is the most common scenario at LAX by volume.
- Failure to report on departure — Cash carried out of the United States without a FinCEN 105 filing. LAX’s outbound enforcement is substantial, with CBP and DEA specifically targeting southbound currency flows on flights to Mexico and Central America.
- Structuring — Dividing funds among family members or travel companions so that no individual is carrying over $10,000. CBP treats the group as a single reporting unit. Structuring violations under 31 U.S.C. § 5324 carry more serious consequences than a simple failure to report.
- Bulk cash smuggling — Currency concealed in luggage, clothing, or baggage with intent to evade reporting requirements, charged under 31 U.S.C. § 5332. This is the most serious of the three and carries the highest exposure to penalty and forfeiture.
Outbound Enforcement at LAX: A Separate Risk
Many travelers understand that CBP screens incoming passengers for unreported currency. Fewer realize that the reporting requirement applies with equal force when leaving the United States. Outbound enforcement at LAX is a consistent priority, particularly on flights departing to Mexico, Central America, and South America. If you are carrying more than $10,000 on a departing international flight and have not filed a FinCEN 105, CBP has authority to seize the funds before you board.
Outbound seizures at LAX often involve currency that is entirely legitimate — proceeds from business dealings, family remittances, real estate transactions, or personal savings. The reporting requirement does not distinguish. Funds seized outbound are subject to the same forfeiture process as inbound seizures, and the same 30-day response deadline applies once the Notice of Seizure is issued.
What Happens After a Cash Seizure at LAX
At the time of seizure, CBP will issue a Custody Receipt for Seized Property documenting the amount taken, the officer involved, and the FP&F contact information. Within 60 days, the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office will send a Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants by certified mail along with the Election of Proceedings form. You must choose how to respond. 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, keeping the matter out of federal court. The standard of review is favorable if you can demonstrate the funds were legitimate, but the petition must be constructed carefully to succeed.
- CAFRA Seized Asset Claim — You formally contest the seizure and demand federal court proceedings, placing the burden of proof on the government. This option carries more risk but also more leverage in the right circumstances.
- Offer in Compromise — You propose a settlement, paying a portion of the seized amount in exchange for the government returning the rest. This can be an efficient resolution depending on the facts and the FP&F office’s disposition on the case.
Choosing the wrong option can permanently reduce what you recover — or cost you everything. Read our detailed guide to the Election of Proceedings form and our analysis of which option is best for your situation.
Act Before the Deadline
Once CBP issues the Notice of Seizure, you generally have 30 days to file an Election of Proceedings. If that deadline passes without a response, CBP may proceed with administrative forfeiture — meaning the government keeps the money without any court involvement. There is no grace period and no standard mechanism to revive a missed deadline.
In the meantime, do not contact the FP&F office on your own. Do not make statements about the money, its source, or its intended use without counsel. Every communication after a seizure becomes part of the record. Read our guide on why you must remain silent after a currency seizure.
What Evidence Will You Need
Whether you file a petition, a claim, or an offer in compromise, you will need to affirmatively demonstrate that the seized funds came from a legitimate source and were intended for a lawful purpose. CBP does not assume legitimacy — the burden falls on you. Supporting documentation typically includes bank records and withdrawal history, tax returns and income documentation, business records, contracts or invoices, statements from family members or business partners, currency exchange receipts, and any documentation specific to the purpose of the travel or the intended use of the funds.
For travelers whose primary language is not English — a common situation at LAX given its international passenger mix — presenting documentation in a format that is persuasive to a U.S. government reviewer requires additional care. Read our full guide to evidence and documentation for currency seizure cases.
LAX CBP Area Port
Currency seizures at Los Angeles International Airport are processed through the CBP Los Angeles Area Port (port code 2720) and its associated Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office. The Los Angeles Field Office is one of the largest and most active CBP field offices in the country, overseeing LAX passenger operations, the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex, and cargo operations across Southern California. Great Lakes Customs Law works with FP&F offices at ports across the country, including Los Angeles, and understands how these offices evaluate and decide seizure cases.
Our Results at LAX and Nationwide
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at Los Angeles International Airport and at ports of entry 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 California-licensed attorney to contest a federal currency seizure — customs law is federal law, 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, DEA, or HSI seized your cash at Los Angeles International Airport, contact us now for a free currency seizure consultation. The sooner we review your case, the more options are available 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.