Tag: customs money seizure

Stack of Cash being returned after filing a claim

How One Client Got $27K Back from CBP After Two Denials (And Why You Should Never Give Up)

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

When U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seizes your money, it can feel like the end of the road. But as this case shows, it doesn’t have to be.

A client recently recovered $27,270 in seized cash—without paying a penalty—after CBP denied not one, but two petitions for relief. The key? Persistence, legal strategy, and a timely claim filed by Great Lakes Customs Law.

The Seizure: A Misstep at the Border

The ordeal began when a traveler returning from Jamaica was stopped at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. CBP officers discovered undeclared cash in her luggage and seized it under suspicion of bulk cash smuggling and failure to report over $10,000, citing 31 U.S.C. §§ 5316 and 5332.

The traveler – who was only carrying the money for someone else – verbally claimed the money belonged to a voodoo doctor (which of course did not help anything). Later, through legal representation, it was clarified that the funds had a legal source and were from the sale of vehicles in Jamaica and were being repatriated to the U.S. by the traveler’s mother.

Two Petitions, Two Denials

The client, represented by Great Lakes Customs Law, filed a petition for remission and mitigation. Despite providing tax records, bank statements, and affidavits showing the legitimate source of the funds, CBP denied the petition, citing insufficient evidence and a supposed nexus to illegal activity.

Like explained here, we recommend starting with a petition 👉 What Option is Best to Get Seized Money Back from CBP?

A supplemental petition was filed, further clarifying the source of the funds and addressing CBP’s concerns. That too was denied.

The Turning Point: Filing a Claim

After exhausting the administrative process, Great Lakes Customs Law filed a formal claim requesting that the case be referred to the U.S. Attorney for judicial forfeiture proceedings. Filing a claim is best used strategically or as a last resort.

Here’s where things got interesting.

Despite proof of delivery via USPS tracking, CBP later claimed they never received the claim. But under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), once a claim is filed, the government has 90 days to initiate a forfeiture complaint in federal court.

They didn’t.

Victory by Default

Because CBP failed to file a complaint within the statutory deadline, the client was entitled to the return of the seized funds by default. No court battle. No penalty. Just persistence—and a lawyer who knew the law.

Lessons Learned

This case offers several important takeaways:

  • Don’t give up after a petition denial. Administrative denials are not the end of the road.
  • Hire an experienced customs attorney. Knowing when and how to escalate a case is critical.
  • Keep records. Proof of delivery and timely filings can make or break your case.
  • Government mistakes happen. And when they do, the law can work in your favor.

⌛Take Back Control of Your Money Today

Don’t let a Customs money seizure derail your travel plans or financial stability. At Great Lakes Customs Law, we understand the stress and complexity of currency seizures. With years of experience on almost 700 cases, we’re here to guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights.

💵Act Now to Protect Your Cash

  1. Contact Us for a Free Consultation: Let’s discuss your case and explore your legal options. We’ll listen to your story, understand your needs, and develop a tailored strategy to recover your seized money.
  2. Gather Your Documentation: Start collecting relevant documents—such as bank statements, tax returns, and travel records. We’ll evaluate this to determine the best way forward for you.
  3. Stay Informed and Prepared: We’ll keep you updated on your case and provide the tools and knowledge you need to make informed decisions.

🕛Don’t Delay – Every Moment Counts

If your cash has been seized by Customs, time is critical. Contact us immediately to take the first step toward resolving your case and reclaiming your money.

📞 Call us at (734) 855-4999
💬 Text or WhatsApp us for quick support
📝 Fill out our contact form to get started

Explore the Full Process of Currency Seizure & Recovery

To learn more about what happens after a seizure, how penalties are assessed, and how you can recover your funds, visit our comprehensive guide:

👉 A CBP Money Seizure Lawyer’s Guide to Recovering Seized Cash

Don’t navigate this process alone—get informed and take action.

$15,000 seized cash from CBP displayed on a table

Detroit Airport Cash Seizure by CBP nets $15k

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP officers in detroit seized $15,000 from a traveler who allegedly failed (after multiple times she was asked) to report how much money she was traveling with. The report she provided was $9,000, which is below the reporting threshold under 31 USC 5316 required to be made on the FinCEN 105 form. Because customs officers searched her and her baggage and discovered she was really transporting more than $10,000 — that is, $15,000, customs agents seized the money.

Detroit CBP seizes cash from arriving and departing travelers for currency reporting violations. These violations include a failure to report more than $10,000 in cash (all cash must be reported, not just the amount over $10,000); structuring (dividing money between people so no one has more than $10,000); and bulk cash smuggling (hiding unreported money with the intention it not be found). If U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized your cash at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Ambassador Bridge, or any of the other ports of entry, you should get legal help immediately!

Take Back Control of Your Money Today

Don’t let a failure to report cash to Customs ruin your travel plans or financial stability. At Great Lakes Customs Law, we understand the complexities and emotional stress that come with currency seizures. We have the experience and are here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for your rights.

Act Now to Protect Your Cash

  1. Contact Us for a Free Consultation: Lets discuss your case and explore your legal options. We will listen to your story, understand your needs, and develop a tailored strategy to recover your seized money.
  2. Gather Your Documentation: Start collecting all relevant documents, such as bank statements and tax returns, to support your case. We will guide you on the best way to present this information.
  3. Stay Informed and Prepared: We will keep you updated on the progress of your case and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions.

Don’t Delay – There is No Time to Waste

SMS/Text Msg Us  WhatsApp Chat

Every moment counts after a Customs cash seizure. Contact us immediately to take the first step towards resolving your case and reclaiming your money. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out our online contact form to get started.

CBP officers seized $80,388 from five travelers who violated U.S. currency reporting laws.

Baltimore CBP Seizes Cash (and Marijuana)

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP seizes cash from traveler’s all around the country. Although it does not seem to happen too frequently from my own experience, money seizures at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are on the rise.

Here is a recent story from CBP, where CBP seized cash from 5 travelers valued at about $80,000:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) continue to seize unreported currency and marijuana from travelers who deliberately ignore our nation’s laws.

During the past five weeks, CBP officers have seized a combined $80,388 in unreported currency from five travelers and assessed a combined $4,000 in Zero Tolerance penalties to eight travelers for marijuana possession. Officers seized marijuana from two additional couples but did not assess civil penalties in those cases.

Customs and Border Protection officers have seized $80,388 in unreported currency and assessed $4,000 in civil penalties in 15 incidents during the past five weeks at BWI Airport. Officers continue to see an alarming trend in passengers traveling with marijuana and underreporting their currency.

* * *

Additionally, U.S. federal law [31 U.S.C. 5316] requires travelers to truthfully report all currency that they possess to a CBP officer, and that they complete a U.S. Treasury Department form (FINCEN 105) for all currency and other monetary instruments that exceed $10,000. Read more about currency reporting requirements.

“We want travelers to be assured that they may carry as much currency as they wish into and out of the United States, and Customs and Border Protection officers will help them to complete the necessary Treasury form if required, but travelers should also know any actions less than truthful could result in them missing their departure flight,” Rottman said.

Customs and Border Protection officers have seized $80,388 in unreported currency and assessed $4,000 in civil penalties in 15 incidents during the past five weeks at BWI Airport.

Have you had cash seized by Baltimore CBP?

If CBP Baltimore seized your cash, you need a lawyer. Read 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.

CBP Texas seizes $297K Cash at Del Rio

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Recently, customs discovered a huge cache of cash when inspecting a vehicle heading into Mexico. The story, which comes to us out of Del Rio Texas, part of the Laredo sector, is detailed below.

The headline of the news release styles this as being “unreported” currency, however what this really is (in addition to being unreported) is bulk cash smuggling. As that link explains, bulk cash smuggling occurs when money is hidden with the purpose of evading the reporting requirement that requires an individual entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 to file a report.

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers working outbound operations seized over $297,000 in undeclared currency in a single enforcement action.

“CBP conducts outbound enforcement operations to protect against unreported exportations of bulk U.S. currency, which often can be proceeds from alleged illicit activity, or currency that funds transnational criminal organizations,” said Port Director Liliana Flores, Del Rio Port of Entry. “This currency seizure demonstrates an outstanding job by our officers.”

The enforcement action occurred on Wednesday, May 5 at the Del Rio International Bridge, when officers assigned to outbound operations selected a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze traveling to Mexico for a secondary examination. Upon physical inspection of the vehicle, packages containing $297,311 in unreported U.S. currency were discovered.

The currency was seized by CBP OFO officers. A 23-year-old male Mexican citizen passenger was arrested, and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) 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 more than $10,000, they will need to report it to CBP. “Money” means monetary instruments and includes U.S. or foreign coins currently in circulation, currency, travelers’ checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest.

Has Del Rio CBP seized your cash?

If Del Rio CBP has seized your cash, we urge you to call us for a consultation before considering doing it yourself. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

$28k laid out on a white table at Dulles airport CBP

Dulles Cash Seizure: $28k to Ghana

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Last week or so, CBP at Dulles reported on some recent seizure activity for enforcing the currency reporting requirement for travelers heading to Ghana with  more than $10,000. In this case, the money was discovered when a dog smelled the money in a woman’s carry-on bag. Upon inspection and questioning, the officers found out she structured the money by giving it 5 other people (also traveling to Ghana) on the flight.

Here’s the full story here. 

STERLING, Virginia — On consecutive days, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currency detector dog alert resulted in the seizure Thursday of unreported currency from Ghana-bound travelers at Washington Dulles International Airport.

The currency K9 alerted to one passenger’s carry-on bag. She reported to CBP officers that she possessed $8,000. Officers discovered $11,500 in her carry-on.

The woman then admitted to traveling with four additional passengers. She allegedly reported that her travel companions were carrying currency for her, which is known as structuring, to avoid exceeding the $10,000 reporting threshold. Structuring is a serious allegation that may result in federal prosecution. However, no charges have been filed at this time.

CBP officers had the four additional travelers and their baggage pulled from the flight for further inspection. Officers discovered an additional $16,354 of the first woman’s currency among three of her four travel companions. Officers seized a total of $27,854 and provided the woman $154 as humanitarian relief. Officers released all five travelers.

All five travelers were born in Ghana. Three are naturalized U.S. citizens, one is a U.S. lawful permanent resident of Ghana citizenship, and one is a Ghana citizen.

It is perfectly legal to carry large sums of currency in or out of the United States. However, federal law requires that travelers who possess $10,000 or more in currency or other monetary instruments must report it all to a CBP officer at the airport, seaport, or land border crossing when entering or leaving the country.

“Structuring currency to deliberately circumvent U.S. law is a serious violation that brings with it potentially severe consequences to the violator, but it does happen and so Customs and Border Protection officers remain vigilant to intercept these currency structuring efforts,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “CBP remains committed to enforcing all of our nation’s laws, including federal currency reporting laws, at our nation’s international ports of entry.”

 

Currency bundles wrapped in black tape were hidden within the tailgate of the truck. The cash was seized by CBP.

Customs Confiscates $170k Cash from Truck Tailgate

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

In Texas recently, the CBP seized a lot of cash that was hidden inside the tailgate of a pick-up truck that was being driven into Mexico.

That last line of the story is ever-present in cash seizure news releases, but gives the wrong impression. What do you supposed would happen if the driver reported the money in this case?

“Excuse me, officer, I would like a FinCen 105 because I have to report some money; I’ve got $170,000 stored in my tailgate.”

If you’ve got $170,000 stored in your tailgate, surely you’re up to no good. And even if you report the money as required by 31 USC 5316, the officers are probably still going to seize the money for other alleged criminal activity, like money laundering, drug trafficking, etc.

Here’s the text of the story, enjoy!

PRESIDIO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Presidio port of entry seized $170,030 Saturday afternoon. The money was discovered hidden in the tailgate of a pick-up truck.

CBP officers were conducting an outbound operation at the Presidio crossing when at approximately 12:50 p.m. a 2018 Nissan Titan pick-up driven by a 48-year-old U.S. citizen, accompanied by a 23-year-old Mexican citizen passenger approached the inspection area. Further inspection of the vehicle revealed currency bundles wrapped in black tape hidden within the tailgate of the truck.

CBP officers seized the money and vehicle and turned the driver and passenger to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI special agents in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

“CBP officers are working hard to stop the illegal movement of guns, ammunition and unreported currency,” said Michael Neipert, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Presidio port director. “Travelers who do not follow federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of losing their currency and may potentially face criminal charges.”

A September 28 2018 notice of seizure and intent to forfeit cash seized at Detroit Metro airport.

Detroit Metro Airport Customs Money Seizure; September 28 2018

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Today Customs published a notice of all property seized by Customs that is currently pending administrative forfeiture proceedings, as they do each week on forfeiture.gov.  Some weeks, the forfeiture notices for Detroit Metro Airport are uninteresting; some weeks they are interesting, but don’t involve cash.

But this week, the notice is not necessarily as interesting as last week’s 3-days-to-forfeiture post last week, but it is nevertheless loaded with 4 separate cash seizures with a total value of $90,138.36. In fact, it only has cash seizures. Have a look:

PUBLICATION/POSTING START: September 28, 12018
PUBLICATION/POSTING END: October 28, 2018
DEADLINE TO FILE A CLAIM: November 27, 2018

DETROIT

2018380700090101-0001-0000, Seized on 04/30/2018; At the port of DETROIT AIRPORT; US CURRENCY RETAINED; 202; EA; Valued at $15,127.00; For violation of 31USC5317, 31USC5316

2018380700090101-0002-0000, Seized on 04/30/2018; At the port of DETROIT AIRPORT; EURO RETAINED; 7; EA; Valued at $263.36; For violation of 31USC5317, 31USC5316

2018380700118001-0001-0000, Seized on 07/14/2018; At the port of DETROIT AIRPORT; U.S. Currency Retained; 395; EA; Valued at $34,042.00; For violation of 31 USC 5332(c), 31 USC 5332(a), 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)

2018380700121501-0001-0000, Seized on 07/23/2018; At the port of DETROIT AIRPORT; US Currency Retained; 193; EA; Valued at $19,300.00; For violation of 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)

2018380700125701-0001-0000, Seized on 08/07/2018; At the port of DETROIT AIRPORT; U.S. Currency Retained; 235; EA; Valued at $21,406.00; For violation of 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(B)

All these cases are from seizures that occurred between April and August, 2018. That probably means that someone has tried, and failed, to get the money back by filing an administrative petition. Some people (some of them lawyers), think it’s very easy to get seized cash back from Customs at Detroit Metro airport.

And it can be, if you know what you’re doing. But if you’ve had cash seized by Customs, I can gaurantee you that you don’t know what you’re doing. A customs cash seizure is totally avoidable. So if you’ve had it ceased, you really should not try to help yourself.

Have you had a customs money seizure at Detroit Metro Airport?

If you have a customs money seizure at Detroit Metro airport, don’t do it yourself. Cash seizure cases are often packed with with difficulties and unforeseen challenges. Instead of risking forfeiture and the total loss of your money, do the smart thing and call us for a free currency seizure consultation and make use of the free customs money seizure legal guide we publish on this website.

Piles of cash sit atop evidence bags after seizure by U.S. Customs in Brownsville, Texas

Customs Seizes $46,536 in Bulk Cash at B&M Bridge

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Earlier this year, CBP officers in Brownsville, Texas, seized a lot of money from a a pedestrian who was leaving the United States for Mexico, although the man was a Mexican national. Cash seizures by Customs officials at the land border between the United States in Mexico in such a large a mount are usually connected with the illegal drug trade.

That’s just one reason why traveling with $46,000, by foot to Mexico, is more suspicious than flying with $46,000 from Hong Kong to Las Vegas for a trip.

The Customs officers who seized the cash search him, and discovered “multiple packages” of bulk cash that totaled more than $46,000. The cash was seized, and the man was arrested (hint: bulk cash smuggling is a crime). Traveling with money out of the country is not illegal, but traveling with more than $10,000 out of the country and not reporting it to CBP is illegal, and will very likely result in seizure of the money.

The full story follows:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge Port of Entry this weekend seized $46,536 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency.

“Our officer’s constant vigilance and experience made this currency seizure possible,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.

The seizure took place on Sunday, Mar. 18, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a 22-year-old male Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, who was selected for a routine outbound inspection. CBP officers conducted a visual and physical search of the bags the traveler was carrying which resulted in the discovery of multiple packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $46,536 hidden within the bags.

CBP officers seized the currency, arrested the traveler and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Have you had bulk cash seized by CBP?

The process of getting undeclared currency seized by CBP back is long and complicated; most importantly, legitimate source and intended use must be proven. If CBP seized bulk 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.

A stacked pile of cash seized by Customs at Dulles airport

Customs at Dulles Seized $124k Cash in 3 Incidents

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

Dulles continues to lead the nation in news releases about money seized by Customs officers at their airport for violations of the cash reporting requirement, structuring laws, or bulk cash smuggling laws. In this story, CBP seized nearly $125,000 from three different groups of travelers. The majority of the money — $83,093 — was seized from a man heading to Ghana.

A backup full of $100 bills seized by Customs officers for failing to report cash at Dulles airport.
CBP officers seized $124,694 during three currency reporting violations at Washington Dulles International Airport March 7-8, 2018.

The remaining two seizures were from a couple arriving from Columbia, and a man heading to Pakistan, both of which were approximately $20,000. Here is the story from CBP:

STERLING, Va., — U.S. federal law is clear in regards to international travelers reporting to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers all currency and other monetary instruments they possess during a CBP arrival or departure inspection.

Travelers may carry as much currency as they wish into and out of the United States.  None of the currency or monetary instruments is taxed.  For travelers who possess $10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments, they just take a few minutes to complete a U.S. Treasury Department financial form and continue on their journey.

Yet, travelers continue to violate this federal reporting requirement, include three groups of travelers who recently ceded a combined $124,694 in unreported currency to CBP officers at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Consequences for violating U.S. currency laws are severe: from loss of all unreported currency to potential criminal charges, as illustrated by the following three cases:

  • CBP officers seized $83,093 from a Ghanaian man destined to Ghana February 8;
  • CBP officers seized $23,082 from a Brazilian couple who arrived from Colombia February 8; and
  • CBP officers seized $18,519 from a U.S. citizen of Pakistan birth destined to Pakistan February 7.

Travelers escaped criminal charges in all three cases.

“Customs and Border Protection urges travelers to be completely honest during CBP inspections, and in particular, comply with a federal currency reporting regulation that is quite clear and simple,” said Daniel Mattina, CBP Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington Dulles.  “The best way for travelers to hold onto their currency is to fully comply with our nation’s currency reporting laws.”

In each case, CBP officers afforded the travelers multiple opportunities to truthfully report all currency, and discovered additional currency during baggage examinations.

CBP officers returned currency in the amount of $93, $234 and $519, respectively, to the travelers for humanitarian purposes, and released the travelers.

Has Dulles CBP seized your cash?

If Dulles CBP seized your cash, beware that you stand to lose a lot of it because of their aggressive penalization of bulk cash smuggling and structuring offenses. You should contact our customs lawyer for a free cash seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

$150,000 in bulk cash wrapped in bundles pictured on the on the roof of the vehicle from which the money was seized by U.S. Customs & Border Protection

CBP Finds and Seizes $185k in Hidden Cash

Posted by Jason P. Wapiennik on

CBP seized $185,000 in smuggled currency that was heading into Mexico out of Laredo, Texas, last week, in a story reported by CBP. The story has few details, but tells us that the money was apparently not hid too well because 16 bundles of currency were found after a “non-intrusive” inspection.

What we do now is that the cash and vehicle was seized, and the two individuals in the vehicle were arrested. The rest of the story consists of “boilerplate” statements about the role of CBP in inspecting passengers, seizing currency, and the currency reporting requirement.

Here’s the story:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to work outbound inspection operations at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge seized over $185,000 in U.S. currency in a single enforcement action over the weekend.

“CBP officers not only ensure that inbound travelers and cargo comply with U.S. laws and regulations but also conduct outbound examinations to safeguard the revenue of the U.S. and protect against unreported exportations of bulk U.S. currency, which often can be proceeds from alleged illicit activity,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “This weekend’s significant currency seizure is a direct reflection of our continuing commitment to enforcing federal currency reporting requirements.”

The seizure occurred on Saturday, April 29, when a CBP officer referred a 2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor for an intensive inspection. The vehicle was driven by a 34-year-old Mexican male citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and a 33-year-old Mexican male citizen as a passenger also from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. A canine and non-intrusive inspection by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of 16 packages containing $185,020 in U.S. currency.

CBP officers seized currency and vehicle. The driver and passenger were arrested and the case was then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) 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 more than $10,000, they will need to report it to CBP. “Money” means monetary instruments and includes U.S. or foreign coins currently in circulation, currency, travelers’ checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest.

If CBP seized your cash you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and can contact our customs lawyer for a free cash seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.