Dulles Customs Officers Seized Unreported Cash From Congolese Traveler At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Customs officials at Washington Dulles International Airport seized $29,900 in unreported currency last week from a traveler arriving on a flight from Ethiopia, according to a release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers explained the U.S. currency reporting law on Feb. 8 to a Congolese national traveler, who reported in writing and said verbally he possessed $10,000. Inspecting the traveler's baggage, CBP officers found a total of $29,900 in his possession.

After seizing the currency, CBP officers released the man, whom they did not criminally charge.

Under U.S. law, there is no limit on how much currency and other monetary instruments travelers are allowed to bring into or take out of the country. However, travelers are required to report all currency of $10,000 and over by filling out a FINCEN 105 before traveling to or from the U.S.

“The consequences for violating U.S. currency reporting laws are severe; penalties may include seizure of most or all of the traveler’s currency, or potential criminal charges,” said Daniel Escobedo, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “Customs and Border Protection strongly encourages all travelers to be well informed of their role in CBP’s international arrivals inspection process at CBP’s Travel website.”

On a typical day last year, CBP officers seized approximately $342,000 in unreported or illicit currency at U.S. borders.