Tag: cash seized at metro detroit airport

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Detroit CBP Cash Seizures For November Currency Reporting Violations

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Detroit CBP reports large money seizures at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), the Ambassador Bridge, and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (they also happen at Port Hurton, too) for the month of November. These cash seizures could be avoided by filing a FinCEN 105 form by anyone who is transporting more than $10,000 into or out of the country.

Why does CBP seize cash?

CBP seizes cash because there is a lot of misinformation among travelers, the vast majority of whom are foreign-born individuals.

First, there is a misconception among the public about the reporting requirement. People will call me tell their story as part of a free consultation and say things like, “I know you can’t take more than $10,000, so…”

And I have to stop them right there and say, “No, you’re wrong there. You can take as much money as you want, you just have to file a form and give it to CBP before you leave or upon arrival.”

Second, another one I hear less frequently is, “I reported less than $10,000 because I didn’t want to have to pay taxes on it.”

Wrong. Again. There are no taxes payable on the money when you bring it in the country. I am not saying money you bring into the country is always tax free; the income tax law and the cash reporting requirement are two different things. I repeat and carefully choose my words: CBP does not collect a tax on the money that you bring into or take out of the country!

Detroit CBP Cash Seizures in November: Four Stories

All the frequently asked questions aside, let’s dive into the stories (and photos) of the cash seizures conducted by CBP officers throughout the Port of Detroit amongst (most unsuspecting) travelers who carried more cash than $10,000. First, on November 1, there was an “intentional misreport” of over $17,000.

Second, on November 3, CBP seized $27,000 from a returning U.S. Citizen who reported having on $9,600:

Then, CBP reported on all the seizures made at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a single day, which totaled $90,000!

Finally, in a single seizure from a Canadian citizen arriving in the United States, CBP seized a bit less than $20,000:

Has Detroit CBP seized cash from you for not reporting it?

You need a customs lawyer if Detroit CBP seized cash from you for not reporting it. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free money seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.
A chart showing Detroit Customs seized cash from 540 travelers in 2015

Detroit Customs Seized Cash from 540 Travelers in FY 2015

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Detroit Customs seized cash from 540 travelers in fiscal year 2015 and racked up a second-best-in-the-nation finish for total amount of currency seized of $10,067,095 ($10 million). The full report is here. The

A chart showing Detroit Customs seized cash from 540 travelers in 2015
Fiscal year 2015 enforcement statistics for the Detroit Field Office of CBP showing Detroit CBP seized cash from 540 travelers

total amount of people passing through the ports of administered by the Detroit field office was 15,813,555.

We don’t have exact statistics handy, but according to a 2013 story it seems the $10 million in cash seized from travelers this year is among the best years for Detroit in terms of cash seizures. The impressive figure means that the Detroit office of U.S. Customs & Border Protection seized more cash from travelers than either of Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona, even though those states are often in the news for high value currency seizures (often connected with the illegal drug trade).

During fiscal year 2015, the Detroit Field Office which includes the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron and the International Bridge in Sault. Ste. Marie, processed over 2.3 million commercial trucks, representing 21 percent of all the international truck traffic across land borders into the United States. Canada continues to be the number one trading partner with a total of $101 billion dollars in trade coming through the Detroit Field Office alone.

[ . . . ]

On the enforcement front, the Detroit Field Office had the second highest seizures in unreported currency across the nation with over $10 million seized from travelers who refused to properly report the amount of currency they were carrying. There were 961 arrests, 72 firearms seized and 588 narcotics and drug seizures.

Great work, CBP Detroit!

Has Detroit customs seized cash from you?

If Detroit customs seized cash from you, you can learn more about the process from our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.