They say everything is bigger in Texas, but apparently not customs airport currency seizures effected by U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Houston CBP reports around $2.4 million seized from arriving travelers for FY 2015 thus far; an impressive sum, but not quite as impressive as Detroit’s $8 million for the same time period. It is more than CBP in Houston seized last year.
These seizures in Houston include seizures at airports in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The story gives the details on some recent seizures which occurred at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Those stories are re-told below in the full story:
CBP officers effected the first of four recent seizures July 5 when a husband and wife enroute to Dubai reported carrying $10,000 as a family. After CBP officers explained the currency requirements, the couple signed the FinCen form. Final currency verification indicated the travelers were in fact carrying $15,433, which CBP officers seized.
Currency is seized for failure to properly report currency in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000.
July 7, officers seized more than $27,000 after a U.S. couple traveling to Iran reported on FinCen Form 105 to having a combined $10,000 in their possession. After officers completed the currency verification, they seized $27,431.
The next day, CBP officers encountered a U.S. citizen and his wife who were enroute to Pakistan. The couple reported they were transporting $9,500; however more than $23,800 was seized after officers completed the currency verification.
The final seizure of the week occurred July 9 when officers seized $22,900 from a couple enroute to India. The couple reported $17,000 in the possession, however when officers completed verifying their currency, it totaled $22,900.
In all four instances, the currency was seized for failure to properly report currency in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000.
The story also says that across the nation, on a typical day, CBP officers seized more than $650,117 from people entering and exiting the United States.
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:
Detroit CBP seizes a lot of currency from arriving travelers for failure to report, structuring, or bulk cash smuggling offenses. How much is “a lot”? CBP in Detroit has seized nearly $8 million dollars in currency since October 1, 2014. This seems like more than previous years (reported here). While the following news release, cleverly titled “Don’t lose your dough, know before you go” only explicitly deals with failure to report customs currency seizure violations, it very likely includes structuring and bulk cash smuggling offenses as part of this grand total:
DETROIT— So far during fiscal year (FY) 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) has seized over $7,900,000 in unreported currency at ports of entry within the Detroit Field Office.
The transport of any currency and/or monetary instruments (i.e. cashier’s checks) over $10,000 must be reported to a CBP Officer upon arrival into or exiting the United States. Penalties can range from civil fines up to and including seizure of the currency and arrest.
“There is no limit as to how much currency travelers can import or export; however to avoid subjecting the money to seizure, it’s always best to report it and file the proper paperwork” said Christopher Perry, Director of Field Operations for the Detroit Field Office.
Currency and reporting laws were enacted to thwart bulk cash smuggling of drug trafficking organizations, terrorist finance networks and other criminal activities.
If you have had cash seized by customs and are contemplating what to do next, please make use of the other information available on this website or call our office at (734) 855-4999 to speak to a customs lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page. 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:
There are two upcoming events for members of the general public and those in the trade community in Detroit, including a citizen academy and the fourth annual trade day.
Citizen Academy attendees will learn about each of CBP’s components: U.S. Border Patrol; Office of Field Operations; and Office of Air and Marine, and their crucial mission of securing our Nation’s borders. The academy will also cover legal and operational aspects, and will provide participants with hands-on exposure to the equipment used by CBP every day. The academy will consist of six sessions, and classes will take place at various offices of the three components over the course of the Academy.
The Citizen Academy will be open to anyone 21 years of age or older. This program is offered at no cost to participants and all class materials will be provided. Please note that a background check is required and applicants should be in good physical health. Class size is limited, and those not selected will be placed on a waiting list for future academy dates.
Applications are being accepted from those who are interested in attending the CBP Citizen Academy and are willing to commit to attending all of the sessions. Please contact Detroit Sector Headquarters at (586) 239-5059 or DTM-PIO@dhs.gov for more information.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Detroit Field Office will hold its 4th annual Trade Day on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. This event will provide the trade community with an opportunity to meet and interact with CBP personnel, trade staff, and representatives from partner government agencies.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view presentations and directly engage with government personnel who regulate and facilitate trade. Participants range from Immigration and Customs Enforcement—Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Food and Drug Administration, Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Food Inspection Service.
Trade Day offers a diverse group of U.S. and Canadian customhouse brokers, carriers, importers, and other trade groups the opportunity to network with commodity teams, specialists from the Centers for Excellence and Expertise, and frontline officers from CBP and other partner agencies.
In previous years, the successful event has attracted audiences representing 97 companies and the general public. “This is a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the trade community and showcase our dedicated team of professionals.” said Director of Field Operations Christopher Perry.
The event will be held at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Detroit District, located at 300 River Place Dr., Suite 5900, Detroit, MI 48207. Parking for the event is free to all who register by Aug. 12. All who plan to attend are encouraged to register online at http://detroitfotradeday2015.eventbrite.com.
Questions or additional information may be directed to Mica Brazier at 313-496-2185 or via email at Mica.L.Brazier@cbp.dhs.gov.
The news release below describes a fairly common occurrence; the wrong turn. I’ve had client’s make a wrong turn only to inadvertently end up at a border crossing and have their money confiscated by Customs for failure to file a report. In the case below, the guy who made the wrong turn had a couple of guns on him, which of course resulted in more than a civil seizure:
DETROIT- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Officers assigned to the Fort Street Cargo Facility arrested a man and seized three weapons during an examination this past weekend.
On January 17, 2015 a 58 year old Florida resident, made a wrong turn in a commercial truck onto the Ambassador Bridge and ended up on the Canadian side of the border. The man declared three weapons a .45 caliber hand gun, 12 gauge shotgun and .38 caliber revolver.
The individual was returned to the U.S. by Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) escort. CBP learned through computer databases, that the man has a criminal history for felony convictions involving carrying concealed weapons and drug possession.
“Our cooperation with CBSA is vital in taking prohibited and illegal weapons off the streets of our communities,” stated Roderick Blanchard, Detroit Port Director. “Teamwork such as this leads to positive outcomes for everyone.”
The man was arrested and turned over to ICE Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officers along with the seized weapons. The man is facing State of Michigan charges for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
If you made a wrong turn into the clutches of U.S. Customs and had your money or property seized, call our office at (734) 855-4999to speak to a lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page (see our case results here). We are able to assist with cash seized by customs nationwide, including Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Orlando.
Please read these other articles about money seizures by customs:
unreported currency at ports of entry within the Detroit Field Office.
the Canadian side of the border. The man declared three weapons a .45 caliber hand gun, 12 gauge shotgun and .38 caliber revolver.