Officers conducted a baggage examination and in total counted $36,834 in the traveler’s possession. Officers seized the total $36,834 for violating currency reporting laws. Officers then remitted $834 to the man as a humanitarian relief and released him to continue his travel.

As I’ve talked about in other places on this website and in my Youtube channel, if CBP has to ask you to make a verbal report, you’ve already committed a violation of the reporting requirement.

That is because the reporting requirement does not allow verbal reports. You must make the report using FinCen Form 105. Even if you make an accurate verbal report, CBP could still seize the money because you did not file the required form!

This is the trap. It is like when a police officer pulls you over and asks you:

“The speed limit is 70mph. Do you know how fast you were going?

“Yes, officer. I was doing 82mph.”

In that situation, you admitted violating the law. The officer doesn’t have to prove it with his own evidence, like a report from his radar. Similarly, if you report have more than $10,000 without having filed the FinCen 105 form, CBP does not have to prove anything else. You’ve admitted your own violation.