Philadelphia CBP Seize $40K in Undeclared Currency

(Wednesday, May 18, 2011)

Philadelphia – CBP officers seized $40,100 Tuesday from a Cameroon citizen who arrived to Philadelphia International Airport from Belgium and who repeatedly failed to comply with federal currency reporting requirements.

The passenger repeatedly declared possessing only $10,100, and produced an envelope that contained $10,000, and he pulled a $100 bill from his pants pocket. Officers discovered an additional $30,000 in bills concealed between the pages of a catalogue in a sealed manila envelope packed in the passenger’s luggage.

There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however 31 U.S.C. 5316 requires travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.

“Travelers who deliberately refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of losing their currency, and may potentially face criminal charges. The easiest way to hold on to your currency is to report it,â€