STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO), at Washington Dulles International Airport seized $46,290 on Saturday from a Ghanaian man for violating federal currency reporting regulations.
There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however federal law requires travelers to report to CBP amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.
A man was boarding a flight to Ghana and was selected for questioning by CBP officers who were conducting an outbound enforcement operation on an international flight. The man reported $10,000, however; a total of $46,290 was discovered on his person and in his luggage. CBP officers seized the $46,290, returned $1,290 in humanitarian relief, and advised him how to petition for the return of the rest of the currency.
“Travelers who refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of having their currency seized, and may potentially face criminal charges,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Area Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “The traveler was given the opportunity to truthfully report his currency. The easiest way to hold on to your money is to report it.”
In addition to currency enforcement, CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts narcotics, weapons, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items.
Visit CBP’s Travel website to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S.
The Privacy Act prohibits releasing the traveler’s name since he was not criminally charged.