CBP in Detroit has continued to log large money seizures for smuggling, structuring, and failing to report (on form FinCen 105)Â 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…)
Nearly $16K in misreported mixed #currency was seized from a pair of travelers at the #Ambassador Bridge, Sept. 8. 💰
Keep your cash! Accurately report any amount more than $10,000 when leaving or entering the U.S. pic.twitter.com/bvvw7GTqdA
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) September 14, 2024
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.
#DetroitMetroAirport @CBP officers seized $15k from an inbound U.S. citizen who intentionally misreported the currency they were traveling with, Sept. 16. Accurately report your 💰 via #FinCEN105 when coming into or leaving the U.S.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/PW4dvqRT2f pic.twitter.com/pZEAHMPztt
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) September 19, 2024
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.
#AmbassadorBridge @CBP officers seized $11k from an inbound U.S. citizen who intentionally misreported the currency they were traveling with, Sept. 24. Keep your #cash. Accurately report your 💰 via #FinCEN105 when coming into or leaving the U.S. pic.twitter.com/OLLfUa6qVi
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) September 29, 2024
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):
On Sept. 25, #DetroitMetroAirport @CBP officers seized $15K in undeclared #currency – some was concealed within various papers and book binding💰📖! pic.twitter.com/csXxuIr2vc
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) October 2, 2024
In another “pair” seizure, on September 27, CBP seized $30,000 in money:
#DetroitMetroAirport @CBP officers seized more than $30K in undeclared 💰 during a pair of inspections, Sept. 26. Check out https://t.co/PW4dvqRT2f to learn more about #currency reporting requirements. pic.twitter.com/S4dWSrq3xB
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) October 5, 2024
Finally, CBP seized $17,000 from an Israeli citizen who was arriving in the United States at the Ambassador Bridge:
#AmbassadorBridge @CBP officers seized $17K in unreported 💰 from an inbound Israeli citizen, Sept. 30. There is no limit to the amount of #cash you may travel with, but anything over $10K must be ACCURATELY reported when entering or exiting the U.S. pic.twitter.com/BvJdV4mb67
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) October 7, 2024