CBP Makes Whopping $478k Cash Seizure - Great Lakes Customs Law

In another classic “bulk cash smuggling” offense, CBP officers in at the southern border seized nearly $500,000 in secreted away in a pick-up truck driven by a U.S. citizen from Texas. The incident resulted an arrest. Although you wouldn’t know it from the news release, this is more than just a “failure to report” or “failure to declare” currency. This is bulk cash smuggling. Bulk cash smuggling makes it much more likely that you will NOT get the money back even if you can show that there was a legitimate source and intended use.

The story follows (original HERE):

“This is one of the larger seizures of undeclared currency we have seen in recent memory and is reflective of a robust enforcement posture and an effective application of the skill and training of our frontline officers,” said Port Director Joseph Misenhelter, Laredo Port of Entry.

The seizure occured on July 27 at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge when CBP officers and agents conducting outbound examinations referred a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen from Laredo, Texas for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered bundles containing $481,711 in undeclared currency hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency, arrested the driver and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

Individuals are permitted to carry any amount of currency or monetary instruments into or out of the U.S. However if the quantity is $10,000 or higher they must formally report the currency to CBP. 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.

If you have had cash seized by customs and are contemplating what to do next then use the information available on this website and call our office at (734) 855-4999 to speak to a customs lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page. 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:

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