U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry recently seized $70,749 in unreported U.S. currency. The seizure took place at the Gateway International Bridge during an inspection of outbound vehicles. Port Director Tater Ortiz stated that CBP officers are responsible for inspecting both inbound and outbound traffic and for identifying unreported bulk currency, noting that these duties contributed to the recent seizure.
The operation took place on Tuesday, when officers selected a southbound vehicle for a routine inspection. The vehicle was then referred for a secondary inspection, during which officers, with the assistance of a canine unit and a nonintrusive inspection system, discovered a concealed amount of currency. Homeland Security Investigations special agents are conducting an investigation to determine the source and intended use of the money.
Currency reporting regulations require individuals to disclose amounts exceeding $10,000 when entering or leaving the United States. Carrying more than $10,000 is not prohibited, but any amount above this threshold must be declared to CBP officers. Deliberately concealing funds to avoid these reporting requirements is a federal offense and may result in serious consequences, including the seizure of the currency or arrest. As stated by CBP, "failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest."
Individuals whose funds have been seized have the right to request their return. The petitioner must provide evidence of the source of the funds and their intended lawful use. Failure to comply with federal currency reporting requirements can result in the seizure of funds.
