Recently, CBP Dulles seized almost $47,000 from a man leaving the United States for Ghana at Dulles airport. The reason for seizure? An inaccurate cash report to CBP.
In other words, someone lied about how much cash they had when asked by Customs. His inaccurate cash report was way off. He was off by $37,000! Even though here he was really off, giving an inaccurate cash report to CBP in any amount can result in a seizure for failure to report. Even if it’s just a $1.
That’s why when you travel near or around the $10,000 mark, you’ve got to be sure that you carefully count everything and know how much you are transporting and how much those you are traveling with are also transporting (so you don’t get caught in a currency structuring violation).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), at Washington Dulles International Airport seized $46,290 on Saturday from a Ghanaian man for violating federal currency reporting regulations.
A man was boarding a flight to Ghana and was selected for questioning by CBP officers who were conducting an outbound enforcement operation on an international flight. The man reported $10,000, however; a total of $46,290 was discovered on his person and in his luggage. CBP officers seized the $46,290, returned $1,290 in humanitarian relief, and advised him how to petition for the return of the rest of the currency.
“Travelers who refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of having their currency seized, and may potentially face criminal charges,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Area Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “The traveler was given the opportunity to truthfully report his currency. The easiest way to hold on to your money is to report it.”
There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however federal law requires travelers to report to CBP amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.
Did you make an inaccurate cash report to CBP?
If you made an inaccurate cash report to CBP at Dulles or had money seized at the airport, you can learn more from our trusted legal guide to a customs money seizure and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.