Philly CBP Arrests Jamaican Allegedly Smuggling $193K

5th Most Currency Seized on Outbound Flight; 9th Most in Area Port

Philadelphia – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a Jamaican man April 15 at Philadelphia International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle $193,000 out of the United States, the fifth most currency seized during a CBP outbound currency enforcement operation.

CBP officers arrested Corey Alexis Bernard, 36, of West Indies, Jamaica, after discovering $193,046 in currency inside his carry-on bag when Bernard was attempting to board a flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica, shortly before 6 a.m.

This seizure is also CBP’s ninth most currency seized in the Area Port of Philadelphia. The most currency seized in the Area Port of Philadelphia, which includes the seaport, was $989,915 Nov. 18, 1998 in a commercial truck from Mexico. The largest outbound airport currency seizure was $621,353 Sept. 2, 2004 from a passenger flying to London, U.K.

There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however federal law requires travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.

“It is not illegal, but very unusual for a passenger to attempt to carry out of the country such a significant amount of currency without reporting it,” said Allan Martocci, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “This seizure and arrest attests to the serious consequences of violating federal currency reporting requirements, and the importance of Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound enforcement operations.”

CBP officers turned Bernard over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations agents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting Bernard on charges of failing to declare currency (31 USC 5316).

CBP officers routinely conduct random inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products or other illicit items.

Travelers are encouraged visit CBP’s Travel website to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.