In late August 2025, CBP officers at Brownsville conducted two separate outbound inspections that resulted in the seizure of a combined $107,152 in unreported U.S. currency — along with both vehicles involved and the arrest of both drivers. The cases illustrate the range of currency enforcement situations at Brownsville: one involving cash found on a person and in a vehicle, the other involving a larger amount concealed within the vehicle itself. Both ended with criminal referrals to Homeland Security Investigations.
What Happened: Two Seizures in Five Days
August 26, 2025 — Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge. CBP officers stopped a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2014 Chevrolet during a routine outbound inspection. Officers discovered $36,500 hidden in the vehicle and an additional $639 on the driver. The currency, the vehicle, and the driver were seized and transferred to HSI.
August 30, 2025 — Veterans International Bridge. CBP officers stopped a 31-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a 2019 Chevrolet. Inspection revealed $70,013 in bulk currency concealed within the vehicle. As with the August 26 case, CBP seized the currency and vehicle and arrested the driver, transferring the matter to HSI for investigation.
Port Director Tater Ortiz noted publicly that these seizures are considered part of CBP’s border security mission and are frequently linked to illicit activity. That framing matters — when CBP characterizes a seizure in those terms and refers the matter to HSI, the civil forfeiture process runs alongside or subordinate to an active criminal investigation. That is a materially different situation from a traveler who simply forgot to file FinCEN Form 105.
What These Cases Tell Us About How CBP Classifies Brownsville Seizures
Both August seizures involved concealment — cash hidden within vehicles rather than openly carried. That distinction is critical under federal law. A traveler who crosses with $37,000 in a bag and fails to file FinCEN Form 105 has committed a failure to report under 31 USC 5316. A traveler who hides $36,500 in a vehicle has potentially committed bulk cash smuggling under 31 USC 5332 — a felony carrying up to five years imprisonment and significantly less favorable civil forfeiture mitigation guidelines.
The three violations CBP enforces at Brownsville’s crossings, and what each means for your case:
- Failure to report (31 USC 5316) — The baseline violation. You carried more than $10,000 without filing FinCEN Form 105. This is the most forgiving classification under CBP’s mitigation guidelines when the money has a clear legitimate source and intended use. Recovery of most or all of the funds is achievable in well-documented cases.
- Bulk cash smuggling (31 USC 5332) — Applies when CBP determines the currency was actively concealed with intent to evade reporting. Hidden compartments, cash distributed throughout a vehicle, and currency wrapped or packaged to avoid detection are the classic indicators at Brownsville. This is the most serious classification and carries potential criminal prosecution alongside the civil forfeiture.
- Structuring (31 USC 5324) — Applies when CBP believes currency was divided among people or trips to stay under the $10,000 threshold. Common at Brownsville when multiple vehicles cross in proximity or when a traveler’s declaration is inconsistent with the amount found.
The statutes cited on your Notice of Seizure tell you exactly how CBP has classified your case — and therefore what recovery path is most appropriate. Cases with only 31 USC 5316 and 5317(c)(2) cited are in the most favorable position. Cases that also cite 5332 or 5324 require a petition that specifically addresses those allegations.
Cases Involving Criminal Investigations: A Different Calculus
Both August 2025 cases involved arrests and HSI referrals — meaning the civil forfeiture process is running alongside an active federal criminal investigation. In this situation, the civil petition process and the criminal defense are not independent of each other. Statements made in a civil petition can potentially be used in criminal proceedings. Evidence gathered for the petition may be reviewed by HSI. And the timeline of the civil process may be affected by the criminal investigation.
If your Brownsville seizure involved an arrest and HSI referral, the most important first step is securing criminal defense counsel — not filing a civil petition unrepresented. The two proceedings need to be coordinated, and decisions made in the civil process should not be made without awareness of their potential criminal implications.
For cases that involved a seizure without arrest — the more typical Brownsville scenario where a traveler’s cash is seized but they are not detained — the civil petition process is the primary concern and the standard recovery pathway applies.
Why Brownsville’s Crossings See Consistent Enforcement
The Brownsville Port of Entry encompasses two major international bridge crossings — the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge and the Gateway International Bridge — as well as the Veterans International Bridge. CBP conducts active outbound enforcement at all three crossings. Southbound vehicle inspections targeting currency are a routine part of operations at Brownsville, not an occasional event, and CBP’s Brownsville office regularly publishes enforcement actions publicly.
Travelers crossing outbound at Brownsville with more than $10,000 — whether for family support, business, real estate, or any other purpose — face a meaningful probability of vehicle inspection. Filing FinCEN Form 105 before crossing eliminates the legal exposure entirely. The form can be filed online in advance through CBP’s portal, and doing so when carrying large amounts is the only reliable protection against seizure at this port.
What to Do If Your Cash Was Seized at Brownsville
After a seizure at any Brownsville crossing, CBP will mail a Notice of Seizure to the address you provided. The notice will include an Election of Proceedings form requiring a response within 30 days of the notice date. Missing that deadline is treated as abandonment — the money is forfeited and there is no further recourse.
- Do not make additional statements to CBP or HSI. If an investigation is ongoing, anything you say can affect both the civil forfeiture and any potential criminal proceedings. Decline to discuss the matter and contact an attorney immediately.
- Read the statutes on your notice carefully. They tell you how CBP classified the violation and what recovery path is most appropriate for your case.
- Start gathering documentation of legitimate source and intended use. Bank statements, tax returns, business records, contracts, or any other documents that establish where the money came from and what it was for.
- Contact a customs attorney before filing anything. If your case involved an arrest, secure criminal defense counsel first. The election you make on the proceedings form has legal consequences in both the civil and criminal contexts.
For a full overview of CBP enforcement at Brownsville’s crossings and the recovery process for this port, see our Brownsville Port of Entry cash seizure page. For a breakdown of which election option is best for your specific situation, see our guide: What Is the Best Option to Get Seized Cash Back from CBP?
Cash Seized at Brownsville? We Handle These Cases Nationwide.
Great Lakes Customs Law represents clients in currency seizure and civil forfeiture cases at Brownsville and at ports across the country. Attorney Jason Wapiennik has handled cases at Texas border crossings for years and understands how the CBP Laredo Field Office — which oversees Brownsville — administers petition decisions. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or contact us online for a free case review.