CBP Cash Seizure of $46K at Dulles Airport

U.S. Customs seized nearly $50,000 again from a traveler attempting to leave the country for a failure to make a currency report over $10,000 at Dulles airport. This seizure happens to involve a family traveling to Austria. They reported transporting $15,000 to Customs, but really had $45,912.02. As a result, their cash was seized by Customs.

This is important: even though you report more than $10,000, the report must be ACCURATE. If you are off even by a dollar, Customs can seize your money, as happened during this airport currency seizure. You can read the full story HERE:

A family of three was boarding a flight to Austria and were selected for questioning by CBP officers who were conducting an outbound international flight enforcement operation. The family reported possessing $15,000 and completed a financial reporting form stating that amount, however; a total of $45,912.02 was discovered in Currency%20seizure3[1]their carryon bags and on their persons. CBP officers seized the $45,912.02, returning $3,000 to the travelers for humanitarian relief, and advised them how to petition for the return of the rest of the currency.“Travelers who refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of having their currency seized, and may potentially face criminal charges,” said Patrick Orender, CBP Assistant Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “The travelers were given the opportunity to truthfully report their currency. The easiest way to hold on to your money is to report it.”

I know it is sometimes true that truthfully reporting money is the easiest way to keep it, but I am also sure that it is not always true. I know many clients had  opportunities to report transporting more than $10,000 in money but there are who are subjected to “zealous enforcement” and asked trick questions without sufficient opportunity to make, or amend, a report.  Sometimes the philosophy of some Customs officers is to “seize first, ask questions later.”

If you have had currency seized from Customs do not try to respond yourself but hire our firm, because we know what we are doing and have successfully handled many cases like yours. If you have questions, please give us a call at (734) 855-4999. We are able to assist with cash seized by customs around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and many other places, and not just locally in Detroit. Please read these other articles:

  1. Seizure of currency and monetary instruments by U.S. Customs
  2. Seizure for bulk cash smuggling into or out of the U.S.
  3. Structuring currency imports and exports
  4. Is it $10,000 per person?  Under what circumstances is filing a report with Customs for transporting more than $10,000 required?
  5. Criminal & civil penalties for failing to report monetary instrument transportation
  6. Is only cash currency subject to seizure by Customs?
  7. Responding to a Customs currency seizure
  8. How do I get my seized money back?
  9. Getting money seized by U.S. Customs back while staying overseas
  10. How long does it take Customs to decide a petition for a currency/monetary instrument seizure?
  11. Statute of Limitations for Currency Reporting Violations
  12. Filing a Petition for Seized Currency (with Sample and Tips) with CBP
  13. Don’t Talk About Your Customs Currency Seizure Case