Tag: detroit

Back-to-back Detroit airport money seizures are listed in this May 27 Notice of Seizure and Intent to Forfeit published by CBP

Detroit Customs Cash Forfeiture Notices: January 24, 2025

Every Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publishes a notice of intention to forfeit any property that has been seized recently on forfeiture.gov. In this week’s notice, Detroit CBP has announced the intention to forfeit four different currency seizures that occurred on December 30 and January 1. Below, I have summarized the details of these four cases, which collectively amount to $80,637.00. Each seizure was due to a FinCen105/cash reporting violation, commonly referred to as a “failure to report.”
The cash seized in these cases will be forfeited if a claim (or maybe a petition) has been filed by March 25, 2025.
  1. Case 2025380700022201-0001-0000:
    • Seized on: 12/30/2024
    • Port: Detroit Airport
    • Currency Retained: 309 EA
    • Value: $24,677.00
    • Violation: 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)
  2. Case 2025380700022301-0001-0000:
    • Seized on: 12/30/2024
    • Port: Detroit Airport
    • Currency Retained: 267 EA
    • Value: $21,400.00
    • Violation: 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)
  3. Case 2025380700022601-0001-0000:
    • Seized on: 01/01/2025
    • Port: Detroit Airport
    • Currency Retained: 232 EA
    • Value: $18,825.00
    • Violation: 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)
  4. Case 2025380700022901-0001-0000:
    • Seized on: 01/01/2025
    • Port: Detroit Airport
    • Currency Retained: 176 EA
    • Value: $15,735.00
    • Violation: 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A)

Is Detroit CBP forfeiting your cash?

If CBP in Detroit has seized and is forfeiting your cash, you have rights to get your money back. At Great Lakes Customs Law, we monitor these notices weekly to assist our clients who have been forced to abandon their cash. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

$30k-seized-Detroit-CBP

Detroit CBP Cash Seizures For November Currency Reporting Violations

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.
$15,000 bundled in rubber bands with notes

Detroit CBP Money Seizure Roundup for September

CBP in Detroit has continued to log large money seizures for smuggling, structuring, and failing to report (on form FinCen 105)  cash through the month of September, building on the money seizures they made through summer (which I previously blogged about here).

CBP has been sharing photographs of these money seizures on the X account for the Director of Field Operations for Detroit. CBP seizes money from anyone entering or leaving the country at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel who breaks the law that requires the money be reported.

The first post is from September 14, where a “pair of travelers” had $16,000 seized. I assume they were traveling together and were related, otherwise it seems unlikely both of their cash was seized (oh, the structuring problems…)

 

Next, $15,000 was seized on September 16 for “intentionally misreport” of the money. The intentionality of the misreported does not matter for legal purposes. A report has to be accurate, whether you intended to do it or not.

On September 24, CBP in Detroit seized $11,000 in money from a returning U.S. citizen at the Ambassador Bridge. This likely means that the person left the country with more than $10,000, too, but probably didn’t report it. Technically, that would be 2 violations of 31 USC 5316 (once upon exit, then again upon re-entry), but the person was only caught once.

On September 25, Detroit CBP seized money that CBP seems to imply was smuggled because it was concealed in papers and book binding (not depicted, unfortunately):

In another “pair” seizure, on September 27, CBP seized $30,000 in money:

Finally, CBP seized $17,000 from an Israeli citizen who was arriving in the United States at the Ambassador Bridge:

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your money?

If Detroit CBP seized your money, you need a lawyer. 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.
About $13,000 in Chinese currency on a table seized by CBP in Detroit

Detroit CBP Cash Seizure Summer Round-up

CBP in Detroit has continued to log large cash seizures for smuggling, structuring, and failure to report (on form FinCen 105) through the second half of summer.

CBP has been sharing photographs of these cash seizures on the X account for the Director of Field Operations for Detroit. CBP seizes cash from anyone entering or leaving the country at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

The first post is from July 30 for a cash seizure that happened at Metro Detroit Airport (DTW). CBP officers seized mostly Chinese currency:

This second post is from the Ambassador bridge. On this occasion, CBP seized almost $17,000 from someone for failing to file an accurate report on form FinCen 105:

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your cash?

If Detroit CBP seized your cash, you need a lawyer. 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.

Stacks of cash seized by CBP in Detroit

CBP Hauls in Big Cash Seizures in Detroit

CBP in April and May continue to log huge cash seizures from arriving and departing traveler’s at the Port of Detroit, including at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

CBP has been sharing photographs of these cash seizures on the X account for the Director of Field Operations for Detroit. These cash reporting violation seizures fall within the purview of the DFO. See the first post, below, from back on April 19:

Then, another seizure on May 10 totaling $21,230, from someone who was alleged to have admitted “intentionally misreporting” the amount of currency he was traveling with.

Has Detroit Metro Airport CBP seized your cash?

If CBP at Detroit Metro Airport seized your cash, you need a lawyer. 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.

US and Canadian Currency Seized by CBP in March 2024

Detroit Cash Seizures at Ambassador Bridge & Detroit Metro Airport in March 2024

CBP officers in Detroit had their own version of March madness, when they seized around $370,000 total in cash from travelers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and another $100,000 at the Ambassador Bridge that connects the US & Canada (these figures are according to CBP’s really awesome currency seizure dashboard).

I was away from X/Twitter for a while but checked back in when I learned a new Director of Field Operations was appointed for the Detroit Field Office at CBP. Lo, and behold, there was lot of publicized seizure activity for March. A bonus was the high-res images images of the seized currency for a few cases for the month. So here is a walk-through of those seizure incidents for March 2024:

On March 1, there was a total of $30,000 seized (in more than one incident) at Detroit Metropolitan airport for passengers arriving in the United States:

Usually, people arriving with cash (who are usually not arrested) bring it with them for travel expenses, purchases, college tuition, and things of that nature.

On March 3rd, there was a total of $23,000 seized in combined amounts of U.S. dollars and Canadian currency at the Ambassador Bridge:

The activity at the Ambassador Bridge also includes travelers, but there’s always a good number of people gambling at Windsor or Detroit casinos who run afoul of the currency reporting laws when they’re crossing the border with their winnings.

On March 8, CBP seized $30,000 from someone leaving the United States for Amsterdam (probably where they would catch another connecting flight somewhere else….) at Detroit Metro Airport:

On March 23, a similar story with $22,000 seized from two travelers (seemingly traveling together) at Detroit Metro Airport on their way out of the United States (true story: most people don’t know they have to report amounts over $10,000 when leaving the country!):

Has Detroit CBP seized your cash?

If CBP in Detroit seized your cash whether at the Detroit Metro airport, the Ambassador Bridge, or the Tunnel, you need a lawyer. 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.

CBP Detroit Seizes $1 Million Cash at Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron

There was a huge cash seizure at the Blue Water Bridge that connects Port Huron, Michigan with Sarnia, Ontario, which is all part of the Detroit Field Office of CBP.

The story is interesting, of course, not only because it involves more than $1 million in cash but for some other details given.

First, he left the United States and was turned back when trying to enter Canada. This means he violated 31 USC 5316 when he left the country without reporting the money.

If Canada had let him enter at this point, CBP would have never found out (unless CBSA found out, and then reported back to CBP).

But things didn’t work out like that. He was refused entry into Canada and sent back through US Customs.

And that’s when the trouble started. CBP probably had a heightened level of suspicion after his refusal from Canada, and so they asked him some questions; one of them was, “Do you have any currency or monetary instruments to declare?”

He said he did not. It is alleged, then, the officer gave him a chance to amend his declaration. So he then declared $990,000. Even if this report was accurate (which it turns out it wasn’t), the initial violation already occurred when he left the country without reporting it.

At this point, of course, CBP steps in and starts counting the money to see if his report is accurate and, also no doubt, is interested to know why the man is traveling with so much cash (it’s not illegal in-and-of itself, but it’s certainly unusual).

Here’s the story:

PORT HURON, Mich.— On August 22, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations at the Blue Water Bridge seized over $1 million in currency from a U.S. citizen after he failed to report the funds to CBP officers.CBP counting cash after seizureThe male traveler and his family arrived in Port Huron after being refused entry into Canada. He initially denied carrying more than $10,000 to officials. Officers gave the traveler a chance to amend his declaration, which he modified to $990,000. Further inspection by CBP officers led to the discovery of two safes containing $1,096,584.

“There is no limit as to how much currency travelers can import or export as long as it is accurately declared to CBP,” said acting Port Director Geoffrey Stoffel.

Currency reporting rules require travelers to declare when they transport more than $10,000 in monetary instruments when travelling into or outside of the United States. Violators may face criminal penalties and forfeiture of the undisclosed funds.

In Detroit and Port Huron, I can typically resolve a cash seizure case in about 90 days from the date of seizure to the date of the return of (most of) the funds.

However, there are special rules for property that is worth more than $500,000. 19 USC 1610 says that if it’s worth more than $500,000, the money must be judicially forfeited. However, CAFRA still is going to apply and as such, a notice of seizure should be issued within the typical 60 day (but in certain cases, no later than 90 day) time-frame.

Even if the parties choose a petition, the case is going to be decided by CBP officials and Treasury Department officials. CBP policy says anything valued at more than $100,000 gets taken out of the hands of the local port-level officials (here, Detroit FP&FO) and instead goes to the Office of Regulations & Rulings at CBP HQ in Washington, DC.

The penalty, for a simple “failure to report” or inaccurate report, would be somewhere north of $50,000. If it’s considered bulk cash smuggling, which seems like a likely allegation in this case (given that he first passed through CBP without reporting it upon exiting the country), then the penalty can be 50% of the total amount seized.

The bottom line is, all the procedural options, complications, and safeguards surrounding seizures valued at more than $500,000, means this case is going to take more than the typical 90 days to resolve.

Has Detroit CBP seized your cash?

If CBP in Detroit seized your cash, you need a lawyer. 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.
$200,000 in Cash Seized by Customs Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge

Ambassador Bridge Site of $230k Customs Money Seizure

Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge was the site of recent money seizures of more nearly $230,000 by Customs for failure to declare cash over $10,000, in commercial vehicles traveling into Canada.

Bundles of undeclared seized cash seized by Detroit CBP The news releases, below, says the money was taken because the driver failed to report the cash at the Ambassador Bridge (but I have to imagine there is a bulk cash smuggling violation somewhere in this, too).

Here’s the Tweet from Detroit’s director of field operations announcing the seizures…

This is the biggest seizure of undeclared cash in Detroit to hit the news in a while. I’m sure the discovery of this amount of money has caused a lot of controversy and interest at the port the last few days. Here’s the full story from CBP, below:

DETROIT — Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations seized $200,000 in undeclared U.S. currency at the Canadian border early Tuesday morning.

The cash was discovered by officers during a series of outbound commercial vehicle inspections near the Ambassador Bridge port of entry.

The cache of currency was seized due to failure to report, and the driver was released without further incident.

Homeland Security Investigations continues to investigate the matter. Less than 24 hours earlier, $28,000 in undeclared currency was seized at the same site.

Update 11-12-21:

This week, notice was published of the intent to forfeit the above seized cash. Anyone with an interest in it has until January 11, 2021, to file a claim (unless they received personal notice in the mail, then other deadlines apply):

2021380100131801-0001-0000, Seized on 09/28/2021; At the port of DETROIT; U.S. Currency; 2000; EA; Valued at $200,000.00; For violation of 31 USC 5317(c)(2), 31 USC 5316(a)(1)(A), 31 USC 5332(c), 31 USC 5332(a)

Those legal references mean it was seized for bulk cash smuggling and a failure to report. This is a case I would have liked. The fact that notice has been posted publicly means that the time for filing a petition has past, or the interested person probably decided to file a claim or an offer in compromise (that would probably be a bad idea).

Has Detroit CBP seized your cash?

If CBP in Detroit 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.

 

Detroit Field Offices 2020 Statistics

CBP Detroit Cash Seizures Decline by Nearly 60% in Pandemic

In fiscal year 2019 (October 2018 through October 2019), CBP seized $7.8 million in cash from (most unsuspecting) travelers at Detroit Metro Airport, the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

Last fiscal year (October 2019 through October 2020), however, CBP seized nearly 60% less than 2019! CBP seized only $4.6 million in cash in 2020. A marked decrease, likely due to the travel restrictions for basically 7 months of the entirety of the fiscal year. Here’s the story:

DETROIT — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel operating at the multiple ports of entry throughout Michigan had an unprecedented year, with a 1,736 percent increase in seized marijuana and 227 percent increase in seized firearms amid public health concerns and restricted travel conditions related to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The Detroit Field Office includes the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie, and Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Drug enforcement operations at Michigan’s five ports of entry netted the following totals: 9,059 pounds of marijuana – a 1,726 percent increase when compared with last fiscal year; 211 pounds of cocaine, more than 1.5 pounds of methamphetamines; and a little more than 15 pounds of fentanyl.

A total of 203 firearms were seized – a 227 percent increase from last year – along with 5,334 rounds of ammunition.

The amount of undeclared currency seized totaled $4.6 million dollars.

A total of 225 individuals were arrested in Fiscal Year 2020 for reasons to include: narcotics smuggling, human smuggling, firearms violations, and fraud.

Finally, our Agriculture Specialists intercepted 2,010 pests. Their diligence and expertise is crucial in preventing foreign pests from causing harm to the agriculture industry.

“This past year the men and women of CBP worked through some of the most adverse conditions that we have ever asked them to work through especially here in Detroit,” said Christopher Perry, Director of Field Operations for CBP in Detroit. “I am simply amazed at how our officers steadfastly enforced the laws of the United States, while fostering our nation’s economic security through lawful international trade and travel during the greatest pandemic my generation has seen.”

We have noticed an uptick in seizure cases again as the pandemic wanes, and people get vaccinated and become more comfortable (and able) to travel. Fiscal year 2021, which began in October 2020 and ends on October 2021, will still be majorly affected by pandemic. Less travel means less cash seizures by CBP.

Has Detroit CBP seized your cash?

If CBP in Detroit 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.

 

Piles of cash seized by CBP at Detroit Metro Airport

CBP Detroit Seizes $60K Headed to Amsterdam

Customs officers at Detroit Metro Airport seized more than $60,000 from a woman who was traveling to Amsterdam, who reported having only $1,000 but in fact had more than $60,000 concealed in a bag of women’s “Always” ultra-thin menstrual pads.

Customs in Detroit is, as far as I can tell, always one of the leading ports across in terms of enforcement of the currency reporting violations, even though it’s not widely ‘advertised’ through Customs news releases. For instance, Dulles airport does not have nearly the volume of cash seizures as Detroit, yet Dulles is always in the news.

Here’s the story about the Detroit cash seizure:

ROMULUS, Mich. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations Officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, conducting outbound enforcement operations encountered a female passenger headed to Amsterdam on February 3 with more than $60,000 in undeclared U.S. currency.

The female passenger initially reported to CBP officers conducting outbound examinations, she was only carrying $1,000. During an inspection of her baggage, Officers found bundles of cash inside envelopes, concealed in packaging used to house sanitary napkins. Officers seized the money as a result of the passenger violating currency reporting requirements.

“CBP enforces these regulations to combat money laundering or other criminal offenses,” said Port Director Robert Larkin. “I’m proud of our officers and the work they do to interrupt currency smuggling operations and illegal activities daily.”

The full story is available here.

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.