Dulles CBP Seizes Fraudulent U.S. Documents, $17k in Unreported Currency from Peruvian Woman

STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than $17,000, a fraudulent permanent resident identity card and a fraudulent social security card from a 54-year-old woman at Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday.

Authorities declined criminally prosecuting the woman.  CBP officers removed her from the United States for possessing fraudulent U.S. identity documents and barred her from re-entering the U.S. for five years.

The woman arrived from Peru via Colombia shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday.  During a secondary examination, the woman initially reported that she possessed $3,000, and then changed that amount to $5,000.  CBP officers discovered $15,870 in U.S. dollars, and additional Peruvian Sol equivalent to $1,189 U.S. dollars for a total of $17,059 in her purse.

CBP officers also discovered the fraudulent permanent resident card (I-551) and social security card, both bearing her name, in her checked baggage.

“These seizures are an example of the vigilance demonstrated by Customs and Border Protection officers every day at our nation’s international ports of entry to intercept illegal activity and closely examine travelers that our laws identify as needing further scrutiny,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Washington Dulles.

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.  Consequences for failing to comply with federal currency reporting requirements include seizure of all currency, a mitigated seizure penalty, and potential criminal charges.

CBP officers at Washington Dulles seized $186,719 in unreported currency in six incidents during October. Read more about those seizures here and here.

In each incident, CBP officers allowed the travelers multiple opportunities to be truthful, and to read, understand and acknowledge the currency reporting law before officers examined the travelers and their baggage.  In each incident, CBP officers found additional currency above what the travelers repeatedly claimed they possessed.

CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts narcotics, weapons, currency, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items at our nation’s 328 international ports of entry.  On a typical day, CBP officers seize and average of $356,396 in undeclared or illicit currency. View CBP Snapshot to learn what else CBP achieved ‘On a Typical Day’ last year.

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.

Learn how CBP's Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders at international Ports of Entry.

The Privacy Act prohibits releasing the travelers’ names since they were not criminally charged.