CBP in Texas Seizes & Prosecutes for $10K in Unreported Currency

In this customs cash seizure story, Customs seized $10,436 from an American living in Mexico while entering the United States. Although the story reveals little more than a failure to report, apparently the man is going to be prosecuted for bulk cash smuggling (which is the intentional concealing of the money with the intent to evade the reporting requirement).

Here is the story (full version here):

DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry seized more than $10,000 in undeclared currency from a U.S. citizen living in Mexico early this week.

Around 5 p.m. Sept. 21, CBP officers at Del Rio International Bridge, inspected a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta as it departed the United States bound for Mexico. During inspection, officers discovered a total of $10,436 in U.S. currency in the possession of a passenger in the vehicle.

The passenger, an 18-year-old male U.S. Citizen residing in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for federal prosecution on a charge of 31 U.S. Code § 5332 – bulk cash smuggling into or out of the United States.

Officers discovered a total of $10,436 in U.S. currency in the possession of a passenger.

“Large amounts of currency may be imported and exported with the proper documentation,” said Port Director Alberto D. Perez, Del Rio Port of Entry. “Failure to report international transit of $10,000 or more could mean forfeiture of funds and criminal sanctions.”

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