Boston CBP Officers Seize 19K in Undeclared Currency from Air Passenger

Boston, Mass. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Logan International Airport seized $19,307 from a Lebanese couple who arrived on a flight from Lebanon via Italy on June 13. The husband and wife declared $5,000 each; however, further inspection revealed an additional $9,307 of undeclared currency in their possession.

Throughout the inspection process opportunities to declare currency in excess of the $10,000 was given to the couple with no avail. Officers subsequently seized the combined amount of $19,307 as per 21 U.S.C. 5316 which requires international travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in foreign currency. Officers advised the passengers on the process to petition for the return of the undeclared currency then released $1,000 to the couple for humanitarian purposes.

CBP routinely conducts random currency compliance inspections of inbound and outbound travelers. Travelers who deliberately refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of losing their currency and may potentially face criminal charges.

As a reminder to the traveling public, it is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

International travelers are also encouraged to visit CBP’s travel website to learn more about the rules governing travel to and from the United States, including currency reporting requirements. For more information, please visit the CBP Travel website.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.