PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized $152,342 in unreported currency from two men who recently departed Philadelphia International Airport.
CBP is not releasing the travelers’ names because none was criminally charged.
Travelers may carry as much currency as they wish into and out of the United States. Federal law requires that travelers must report all U.S. and foreign monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or greater on a U.S. Treasury Department financial form. None of the currency is taxed.
than $152k in unreported currency during
two recent outbound inspections at PHL.
On Saturday, CBP officers seized $105,842 from a man destined to Ghana who initially claimed that he possessed $60,000.
On April 1, CBP officers seized $46,500 from a man destined to Turkey who initially claimed that he possessed $30,000.
“Customs and Border Protection encourages all travelers to be completely honest and report all their currency during an inspection with a CBP officer. Consequences could be severe, including seizure of all currency and possible criminal prosecution,” said Joseph Martella, CBP Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “The best way for travelers to hold onto their currency is to fully comply with our nation’s currency reporting laws.”
In each case, CBP officers afforded the travelers multiple opportunities to truthfully report all currency.
During a typical day in 2017, CBP seized $265,205 in undeclared or illicit currency along our nation’s borders. Learn more about what CBP did during "A Typical Day."
“Customs and Border Protection outbound inspections protect against unreported exportations of bulk U.S. currency, which often can be proceeds from alleged illicit activity, or that fund transnational criminal organizations,” said Casey Owen Durst, Director, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “These significant currency seizures are a direct reflection of CBP’s continuing commitment to enforcing all U.S. laws, including federal currency reporting requirements, at our nation’s international ports of entry.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations
Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers into the U.S. In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.
Travelers are encouraged to visit CBP’s Travel website to learn more about the CBP admissions process and rules governing travel to and from the U.S.
CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.
Learn more about CBP at CBP.gov.