Sterling, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) seized
$29,000 Monday from a Ghanaian woman for violating federal currency reporting
regulations.
The passenger, who arrived to Dulles
from London, declared possessing less than $10,000. While examining her bags,
CBP officers discovered a large sum of U.S. currency in a zippered compartment
of her handbag. The final count was $29,000.
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.
CBP officers seized the $29,000 and
advised the traveler how to petition for the return of her seized 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 Christopher Hess, CBP
port director for the Port of Washington. “The traveler was given the
opportunity to truthfully report her currency. The easiest way to hold on to
your money is to report it.”
In addition to narcotics interdiction,
CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing
international flights and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture
products or other illicit items.
Travelers are encouraged to 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 she was not criminally charged.
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.
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