On April 18, 2025, CBP officers at the Ambassador Bridge seized $16,619 in unreported U.S. currency from an outbound traveler crossing from Detroit into Windsor. The Director of Field Operations for Detroit posted the seizure publicly on X, continuing a pattern of regular public enforcement announcements from CBP Detroit that serves as a visible deterrent to travelers considering crossing with undeclared cash.
This particular seizure is straightforward in its facts — a traveler crossing outbound with more than $10,000 without filing the required FinCEN Form 105. But it raises questions that matter to a much broader audience: why does the reporting requirement apply to outbound crossings? How does CBP detect unreported cash at a busy land border? And what should you do if your money has already been seized?
Why the Ambassador Bridge Sees Regular Currency Seizures
The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest commercial border crossing between the United States and Canada, handling a substantial portion of all U.S.-Canada trade by value. But it also carries tens of thousands of passenger vehicle crossings per week — and CBP officers assigned to the bridge conduct both inbound and outbound inspections on that passenger traffic.
Outbound enforcement at the Ambassador Bridge is more active than at many other land crossings. The Detroit Field Office has historically prioritized outbound currency enforcement, and the DFO Detroit social media account regularly publicizes seizures at the Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. This transparency is intentional — CBP uses public enforcement announcements as a deterrent, and the volume of those announcements reflects genuine enforcement activity rather than isolated incidents.
The Detroit metro’s community ties to Canada, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and other regions mean that a significant number of travelers cross the Ambassador Bridge carrying cash intended for family support, real estate transactions, or business purposes. Many of these travelers have entirely legitimate funds but are unaware that the reporting requirement applies in both directions — or that it applies to the total amount being transported by a group rather than per individual.
The Reporting Requirement at Land Border Crossings
Under 31 USC 5316, any person transporting more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States must file FinCEN Form 105 — the Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments — at the time of crossing. This requirement applies at land borders exactly as it does at airports. CBP cited 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A) in the April 18 seizure, which is the standard failure-to-report statute.
A few points that frequently cause confusion at land border crossings:
- The requirement applies in both directions. Crossing from Detroit to Windsor with unreported cash is subject to the same rules as crossing from Windsor to Detroit. Outbound travelers are required to file FinCEN Form 105 before departure just as inbound travelers must file upon arrival.
- The threshold is not per person. If you are traveling with a companion and together you are carrying more than $10,000, a report must be filed regardless of how the cash is divided between you.
- Canadian dollars count. The reporting requirement applies to foreign currency as well as U.S. dollars. The relevant calculation is the U.S. dollar equivalent of all currency and monetary instruments being transported.
- The form can be filed before you cross. CBP operates an online filing portal for FinCEN Form 105. Filing in advance eliminates any ambiguity at the crossing and is the safest approach when carrying large amounts.
How CBP Detects Unreported Cash at the Ambassador Bridge
CBP officers at land border crossings use several tools to detect unreported currency during vehicle inspections:
- Canine units trained to detect currency — currency-detecting dogs are deployed at both inbound and outbound lanes at the Ambassador Bridge
- Nonintrusive imaging technology — X-ray and gamma-ray scanning of vehicles that can identify the density patterns consistent with bundled cash
- Officer questioning — inconsistent answers about travel purpose, destination, or the presence of cash are common triggers for secondary inspection
- Behavioral observation — nervousness, evasion, and other behavioral indicators that prompt additional scrutiny
A positive canine alert or imaging anomaly is sufficient grounds for CBP to conduct a physical search of the vehicle. If currency is found that exceeds $10,000 and no FinCEN Form 105 has been filed, seizure follows under 31 USC 5317(c)(2).
The Three Violations CBP Enforces at the Ambassador Bridge
How CBP classifies a currency seizure at the Ambassador Bridge determines what happens next and how difficult recovery will be. The three violations CBP enforces are:
- Failure to report (31 USC 5316) — The baseline violation applicable to the April 18 seizure. The traveler had more than $10,000 and did not file. This is the most common classification and carries the most favorable civil forfeiture mitigation guidelines when the money has a legitimate source and intended use.
- Bulk cash smuggling (31 USC 5332) — Applies when CBP determines the currency was actively concealed — in door panels, under seats, in hidden compartments, or distributed throughout the vehicle — with intent to evade the reporting requirement. This is a felony carrying up to five years imprisonment and significantly less favorable civil forfeiture outcomes.
- Structuring (31 USC 5324) — Applies when CBP believes currency was divided among travelers or trips specifically to stay below the $10,000 threshold. A federal offense regardless of whether any individual amount exceeded the limit.
In the April 18 case, CBP cited only the failure-to-report statute — suggesting a straightforward reporting violation rather than a concealment or structuring case. That classification matters significantly for what recovery options are available to the person whose money was seized.
What Happens After CBP Seizes Your Cash at the Ambassador Bridge
After the seizure, CBP will issue a custody receipt at the crossing. A formal Notice of Seizure will follow in the mail within a few weeks, along with an Election of Proceedings form requiring a response within 30 days of the notice date. Missing that deadline is treated as abandonment — forfeiture proceeds and the money is gone.
The three response options are an administrative petition, a CAFRA judicial claim, and an offer in compromise. In the vast majority of Ambassador Bridge seizure cases — particularly straightforward failure-to-report cases like the April 18 incident — an administrative petition is the right first step. It is faster than federal litigation, preserves all subsequent options if denied, and when properly prepared with documentation of legitimate source and intended use, frequently results in full or near-full recovery of the seized funds.
For a full breakdown of the options and which is best for your specific situation, see our guide: What Is the Best Option to Get Seized Cash Back from CBP?
Cash Seized at the Ambassador Bridge? We Are Right Down the Road.
Great Lakes Customs Law is headquartered in Livonia — minutes from the Ambassador Bridge. Attorney Jason Wapiennik has handled currency seizure cases at CBP Detroit ports for more than 15 years and has direct working relationships with the FP&F officers who decide these cases. No firm knows the Detroit Field Office better.
If your cash was seized at the Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, or the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, call us at (734) 855-4999 or contact us online for a free case review. The 30-day deadline starts from the date of the notice — not the date you receive it. Act quickly.
For a full overview of how CBP enforces currency reporting at all Detroit-area ports, see our Detroit cash seizure page.