CBP details unreported currency seizure

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said officers staffing the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) seized over $99,000 from a family bound to the Palestinian territories.

“Customs and Border Protection wants to make clear that there is no limit to the amount of money that travelers may carry when crossing U.S. borders, we only ask that travelers be truthful with CBP officers and fully comply with federal currency reporting laws,” Keith Fleming, acting director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office, said. “The consequences of not reporting currency appropriately are pretty significant.”

Concerning the Philadelphia currency seizure, CBP officers conducted outbound enforcement operations on a Doha, Qatar-bound flight, encountering a man who verbally reported that he possessed $65,000.

The traveler was presented with a CBP form 503 explaining federal currency reporting requirements. He was asked if he understood the law and to write down his currency amount on the form. The traveler proceeded to write $65,000 and signed the form.

Officers also provided the traveler with a Treasury Department form FINCEN 105, and the traveler documented that he possessed $65,000, per authorities.

Federal law requires travelers crossing domestic borders to report all currency and other monetary instruments in their possession exceeding $10,000 to a CBP officer.

Upon initiating a baggage examination, CBP officers discovered a total of $99,549 in the traveler’s pockets, in his jacket, and in two carry-on backpacks. Officers seized the funds, returned $5,000 for humanitarian purposes, and released the family.