Over $50,000 in undeclared currency was seized at a Florida airport.
United States Customs and Border Protection officials at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County confiscated more than $53,800 in undeclared US currency from an outgoing traveler who was arrested on federal money laundering allegations.
CBP officers in Florida were examining passengers on a flight bound for Kingston, Jamaica. Although the tourist stated that they were not carrying currency, officers located and verified $53,800 in US currency.
Homeland Security Investigations arrived at the scene, and the suspect was apprehended. Federal prosecutors accepted allegations of money laundering under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956.
“Criminal organizations frequently use bulk cash smuggling to transport illicit proceeds across international borders,” stated Daniel Alonso, director of field operations for CBP’s Miami and Tampa field offices. “CBP officers remain vigilant in identifying these violations and work closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt transnational criminal activity while protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders.”
There is no limit on the quantity of dollars or other monetary instruments that travelers may bring into or out of the United States. Anyone transporting more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments into or out of the country must disclose the funds to FinCEN using Form 105, Disclosure of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments.
Failure to declare currency, or filing a fraudulent report, may result in seizure and civil or criminal fines.
CBP’s outbound enforcement mission focuses on unlawful bulk cash smuggling, narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling, and other transnational criminal activity while supporting lawful foreign travel and trade.
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