Category: customs cash seizure

Dulles CBP K9s Sniff $171K in Unreported Cash

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

With all the tariff news its easy to forget about CBP’s prowess in seizing cash from traveler’s for (real, perceived, or ginned-up) of the currency reporting requirements that obligate travelers arriving or leaving with more than $10,000 to accurately report it to CBP (on their own, before being asked or stopped!).

Thus, CBP at Dulles Aiport (IAD) was in the news 10 days ago touting the seizure of a total of $171,016 from 10 travelers from March 5 to April 10, with the aid of the K9 named “Fuzz” who alerted CBP to the presence of cash in 6 of those 10 money seizures.

STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection currency detector dogs Fuzz and Cigy lent a paw in helping CBP officers detect and seize over $30,406 in unreported currency this weekend and $171,016 since March 5 at Washington Dulles International Airport from travelers who violated federal currency reporting laws.

Customs and Border Protection officers and canines continue to enforce currency reporting laws at Washington Dulles International Airport after seizing $171,016 in 10 incidents from March 5 through April 6, 2025.
K9 Fuzz is a four-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever trained to detect currency and firearms.

On Saturday, CBP officers seized $13,046 from a traveler departing to Brussels, Belgium, and on Sunday, CBP officers seized $17,360 from a traveler departing to Amman, Jordan, after currency detector dog Fuzz, a four-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, alerted to bulk currency in the traveler’s possession.

These seizures follow a busy month of currency reporting violations in March in which CBP officers seized $140,610 collectively during eight incidents. In those cases, four travelers were departing to Accra, Ghana, two to Lagos, Nigeria, and two to Seoul, South Korea.

In six of these 10 seizures, CBP currency detector dogs Fuzz or Cigy, a 2-year-old male German shepherd mix, alerted CBP officers to the presence of bulk currency.

Unreported bulk currency may sometimes be the proceeds of illegal activity, such as financial fraud and money scams. Greed may also cause some travelers to smuggle unreported currency that they may have lawfully attained to shield it from family or business partners.

“Federal currency reporting laws help CBP combat illicit financial activity at our nation’s ports of entry, which contributes to the financial security of our nation and to the protection of our most vulnerable citizens from becoming unwitting victims of financial crime,” said Christine Waugh, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “CBP officers balance our homeland security mission with facilitating lawful international travel and our highly trained detector dogs help CBP officers to quickly find that proverbial unlawful needle in the haystack.”

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Stay Informed and Prepared: We will keep you updated on the progress of your case and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions.

Don’t Delay – There is No Time to Waste

SMS/Text Msg Us  WhatsApp Chat

Every moment counts after a Customs cash seizure. Contact us immediately to take the first step towards resolving your case and reclaiming your money. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out our online contact form to get started.

Detroit Airport Cash Seizures: February 2025

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Our law firm helps people every day in ports across the nation put their life back together after suffering through a currency seizure by CBP. These cash seizure incidents happen many times across the nation every single day. Although we help people nationwide with these seizures, we are highlighting a few stories from our local Port of Detroit.

Customs Cash Seizures under Trump

Under the Trump administration, you can expect CBP enforcement on all levels and for all violation types to be high, because that was our experience during his first term.

CBP not only collects revenue in the form of tariffs on imported goods, but CBP is also our nation’s law enforcement agency at all ports of entry. For people who encounter CBP when traveling, CBP will seek to ensure no laws are being violated. Among the laws which CBP enforces is the requirement that all cash in excess of $10,000 is reported timely and accurately under the dictates of 31 USC 5316.

If the cash is not reported using the FinCEN 105 form, the cash may be seized by CBP for failing to report it. Likewise, CBP has similar authority to seize the money if it is structured (divided in increments less than $10,000) or smuggled (hidden) with an intent to evade the currency report requirement.

Customs Cash Seizures in Detroit

The port of Detroit, as explained a lot of other times, is always near the top for aggressive enforcement and cash seizure activity. Therefore, there’s always some news releases being made about seizures. In this case, we get the following posts from CBP’s X/Twitter account for the DFO of Detroit for cash seizures that happened in February 2025.

First, on February 2, CBP seized more than $30,000 from a person leaving the United States at Detroit Metro Airport:

In the next post, on February 19, CBP seized $19,000 from two people who likely structured it (based on the comment of the DFO):

Then, on February 18, CBP seized $11,000 from a greencard holder and Vietnam citizen traveler:

Afterward, on February 25, CBP seized $13,000 from another out-bound traveler who falsely reported $5,000 because she was nervous (this happens a lot!):

Finally, on February 27, CBP reported seizing $50,000 from 3 separate encounters:

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Stay Informed and Prepared: We will keep you updated on the progress of your case and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions.

Don’t Delay – There is No Time to Waste

SMS/Text Msg Us  WhatsApp Chat

Every moment counts after a Customs cash seizure. Contact us immediately to take the first step towards resolving your case and reclaiming your money. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out our online contact form to get started.

Cash seizure at Detroit Metro Airport in January 2025

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

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:

Then, a week later, Detroit customs seized $14,000:

Last for the month, $18,000 was seized from a traveler returning from Vietnam:

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Stay Informed and Prepared: We will keep you updated on the progress of your case and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions.

Don’t Delay – There is No Time to Waste

SMS/Text Msg Us  WhatsApp Chat

Every moment counts after a Customs cash seizure. Contact us immediately to take the first step towards resolving your case and reclaiming your money. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out our online contact form to get started.

$44,000 Smuggled Cash Seized by CBP at San Ysidro US Mexico Border

CBP San Ysidro discovers $44k in cash hidden in food bag

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP in San Ysidro, California, seized a bundle of cash — literally – from a woman heading to Mexico. She was smuggling more than $44k in a plastic bag full of food. Here’s an excerpt from the tale (link):

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry intercepted the transportation of $44,148 in unreported currency hidden within a vehicle during an outbound examination last Wednesday.

On January 8, at approximately 12:30 p.m., CBP officers conducting outbound operations at the San Ysidro Port of Entry encountered a 27-year-old woman driving a 2024 sedan traveling southbound into Mexico from the United States. CBP officers referred the driver and the vehicle for a secondary examination.

CBP San Ysidro Seized This Bundle of $44000 in Cash from a Person going to Mexico
CBP officers discover more than $44k in unreported currency while conducting southbound inspections at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

In secondary, a CBP K-9 unit screened the vehicle and alerted officers to examine a white plastic bag containing food items. Upon further inspection of the white plastic bag, officers discovered a brown package that contained a total of $44,148 in unreported currency.

I’ve helped numerous people who have had money seized by CBP in San Ysidro. I’ve heard a variety of reasons for the reason my clients were carrying the money, including purchasing or selling real estate in Mexico, traveling for cosmetic or surgical procedures, or buy or selling vehicles. Among other reasons, those are the most prominent that spring to mind. None of those stories made the “news” like this one did. So what is different?

This case involves bulk cash smuggling — the intention hiding of cash that is coupled with a failure to report the cash. If the cash was reported, then it wouldn’t matter it was smuggled. Imagine the woman saying:

“Hey officer, just so you know, I’ve got $44,000 in this white bag with my Chinese take out order, and here is my FinCen 105 form.”

That would be what CBP would need to hear not seize the cash. But she didn’t, apparently, and that makes all the difference. CBP’s logic is: If the transportation of the cash was innocent, then why hide it? Very likely, this person was up to no-good with the cash and now has had it seized.

CBP then concludes the story with:

It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in temporary or permanent seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

Has CBP in San Ysidro seized your cash?

You need a customs lawyer if CBP in San Ysidro seized your cash. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free money seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

Chart of Cash Seizures from CBP Data Portal

Detroit CBP Confiscated $459,000 from 25 Travelers in October

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

In October, at the start of CBP’s fiscal year, Detroit customs officers confiscated a total of $42,000 from two different travelers (or sets of travelers), as detailed below:

But is that all CBP seized in October 2024? Hardly. At CBP’s Data Portal, you can pull stats for currency seizures and if you look at that data, CBP confiscated almost a half-million dollars in October 2024. Here is screenshot:

Chart of Cash Seizures from CBP Data Portal

That seems like a lot. Seriously, a lot. The filter “inbound/outbound” would lead me to believe this is truly all for currency reporting violations by international travelers. CBP ends up conducting seizure and forfeiture proceedings of money for other government and state agencies, but this would appear to not include those numbers. If true, wow.

In October, there were 25 seizure events. That means, on average, CBP seized $18,360 from the travelers.

Has Detroit CBP confiscated your cash?

You need a customs lawyer if Detroit CBP confiscated cash from you. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free money seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

$30k-seized-Detroit-CBP

Detroit CBP Cash Seizures For November Currency Reporting Violations

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Detroit CBP reports large money seizures at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), the Ambassador Bridge, and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (they also happen at Port Hurton, too) for the month of November. These cash seizures could be avoided by filing a FinCEN 105 form by anyone who is transporting more than $10,000 into or out of the country.

Why does CBP seize cash?

CBP seizes cash because there is a lot of misinformation among travelers, the vast majority of whom are foreign-born individuals.

First, there is a misconception among the public about the reporting requirement. People will call me tell their story as part of a free consultation and say things like, “I know you can’t take more than $10,000, so…”

And I have to stop them right there and say, “No, you’re wrong there. You can take as much money as you want, you just have to file a form and give it to CBP before you leave or upon arrival.”

Second, another one I hear less frequently is, “I reported less than $10,000 because I didn’t want to have to pay taxes on it.”

Wrong. Again. There are no taxes payable on the money when you bring it in the country. I am not saying money you bring into the country is always tax free; the income tax law and the cash reporting requirement are two different things. I repeat and carefully choose my words: CBP does not collect a tax on the money that you bring into or take out of the country!

Detroit CBP Cash Seizures in November: Four Stories

All the frequently asked questions aside, let’s dive into the stories (and photos) of the cash seizures conducted by CBP officers throughout the Port of Detroit amongst (most unsuspecting) travelers who carried more cash than $10,000. First, on November 1, there was an “intentional misreport” of over $17,000.

Second, on November 3, CBP seized $27,000 from a returning U.S. Citizen who reported having on $9,600:

Then, CBP reported on all the seizures made at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a single day, which totaled $90,000!

Finally, in a single seizure from a Canadian citizen arriving in the United States, CBP seized a bit less than $20,000:

Has Detroit CBP seized cash from you for not reporting it?

You need a customs lawyer if Detroit CBP seized cash from you for not reporting it. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free money seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.
$15,000 bundled in rubber bands with notes

Detroit CBP Money Seizure Roundup for September

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP in Detroit has continued to log large money seizures for smuggling, structuring, and failing to report (on form FinCen 105)  cash through the month of September, building on the money seizures they made through summer (which I previously blogged about here).

CBP has been sharing photographs of these money seizures on the X account for the Director of Field Operations for Detroit. CBP seizes money from anyone entering or leaving the country at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel who breaks the law that requires the money be reported.

The first post is from September 14, where a “pair of travelers” had $16,000 seized. I assume they were traveling together and were related, otherwise it seems unlikely both of their cash was seized (oh, the structuring problems…)

 

Next, $15,000 was seized on September 16 for “intentionally misreport” of the money. The intentionality of the misreported does not matter for legal purposes. A report has to be accurate, whether you intended to do it or not.

On September 24, CBP in Detroit seized $11,000 in money from a returning U.S. citizen at the Ambassador Bridge. This likely means that the person left the country with more than $10,000, too, but probably didn’t report it. Technically, that would be 2 violations of 31 USC 5316 (once upon exit, then again upon re-entry), but the person was only caught once.

On September 25, Detroit CBP seized money that CBP seems to imply was smuggled because it was concealed in papers and book binding (not depicted, unfortunately):

In another “pair” seizure, on September 27, CBP seized $30,000 in money:

Finally, CBP seized $17,000 from an Israeli citizen who was arriving in the United States at the Ambassador Bridge:

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your money?

If Detroit CBP seized your money, you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free money seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.
Clear bags filled with money seized by Texas CBP

Texas CBP seized $79K in hidden cash currency at Hidalgo Bridge

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

A failure to understanding customs regulations can result in the failure to declare cash when traveling into or out of the United States. The cash reporting laws include requirements to report more than $10,000,  and prohibitions against smuggling (hiding) the cash and structuring cash (dividing it with others so that no one has more than $10,000). In the story below, we look at a cash seizure by customs, highlighting the importance of compliance and the potential consequences of violations.

The story is quoted in full below, providing detailed insights into the events that transpired and the legal framework surrounding cash seizures by customs.

HIDALGO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Hidalgo International Bridge this week seized more than $79,000 in unreported currency hidden within a vehicle during an outbound examination.

“Our frontline CBP officers utilized their training and experience along with technology in the outbound environment and prevented a significant amount of unreported currency from going south,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “These types of bulk cash seizures, often proceeds from illegal activity, deny transnational criminal organizations the ability to profit from their illicit enterprises and exemplify CBP’s ongoing commitment to our priority border security mission.”

The seizure occurred on Monday, Sept. 23 at the Hidalgo International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a southbound 2008 Honda driven by a 58-year-old male Mexican citizen for a secondary examination. Following a thorough examination that included use of a nonintrusive inspection system, CBP officers discovered five packages containing a total of $79,392 in unreported currency hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency. Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation.

It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

Has Texas CBP seized your bulk cash?

Has Texas CBP seized your bulk cash? If so, we can help. Read our helpful customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

Cash and Gold Seized by CBP in Dulles

Dulles CBP Seizes $90K in Cash from 5 people: August 2024

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

The latest CBP money seizure news publicized comes to us from Dulles airport (again). In the story below, CBP seized a total of $90,535 from different people at different dates in August.

CBP seized the money for violation of the currency reporting requirements, which includes the failure to report the currency using a FinCEN 105 form.

STERLING, Va. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers remind travelers heading on overseas trips to comply with U.S. currency reporting laws after officers seized a combined $90,535 from five travelers during August at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Travelers can take as much currency or other monetary instruments they want on their international trips; however, federal law requires travelers to report all currency of $10,000 or greater to a CBP officer. CBP officers will assist travelers in completing the U.S. Treasury Department currency reporting form – the Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments [FINCEN 105].

Travelers can get an early start on reporting their currency by completing the FINCEN 105 PDF, or guided FINCEN 105 online form on CBP’s website prior to a CBP arrivals inspection or departure inspection.

In addition to having their currency seized, travelers risk other consequences, such as missing their departure or connecting flight, interrupting vacation plans, or facing potential criminal prosecution.

Of the five seizures, four were recorded on travelers departing the United States to either Bogota, Colombia, Doha, Qatar, or Accra, Ghana. The fifth seizure was recorded on a traveler arriving from Shanghai, China.

CBP currency detector dog Fuzz, a 4-year-old male yellow labrador retriever, helped to detect unreported currency during three of the seizures.

During each inspection, CBP officers explained U.S. currency reporting laws to the travelers and asked how much currency they possessed. Each of the travelers provided verbal and written declarations of their currency, and as necessary, officers helped travelers complete FINCEN 105 forms for those who reported over $10,000.

During subsequent searches of the travelers and their carryon baggage, CBP officers found additional unreported currency and seized the currency.

CBP is not releasing any of the travelers’ names because none were criminally charged.

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your cash?

If CBP at Detroit Metro Airport seized your cash, you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.
About $13,000 in Chinese currency on a table seized by CBP in Detroit

Detroit CBP Cash Seizure Summer Round-up

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP in Detroit has continued to log large cash seizures for smuggling, structuring, and failure to report (on form FinCen 105) through the second half of summer.

CBP has been sharing photographs of these cash seizures on the X account for the Director of Field Operations for Detroit. CBP seizes cash from anyone entering or leaving the country at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

The first post is from July 30 for a cash seizure that happened at Metro Detroit Airport (DTW). CBP officers seized mostly Chinese currency:

This second post is from the Ambassador bridge. On this occasion, CBP seized almost $17,000 from someone for failing to file an accurate report on form FinCen 105:

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your cash?

If Detroit CBP seized your cash, you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.