Customs Officers Seize $47K In US Currency At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than $47,000 in currency from a traveler Friday, as she was about to board a flight to The Netherlands at Washington Dulles International Airport.

A female traveler, who is a U.S. citizen, told customs officials she had $10,000 in her possession and showed them a FINCEN-105 currency reporting form she'd filled out earlier in the day. CBP officers asked if she had any additional currency, the traveler replied she only had the $10,000.

After examining her carryon bag, the officers found $47,440. Seizing the currency, they returned $1,740 of it to the woman for humanitarian reasons. She was released to continue her trip and was not criminally charged.

“Grossly under reporting on both the Treasury currency reporting form and to a Customs and Border Protection officer during inspection is a clear violation of our nation’s currency reporting laws,” said Keith Fleming, acting director of field operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “Travelers must truthfully report all currency and other monetary instruments that they possess to a CBP officer.”

Although the U.S. does not limit the amount of currency travelers may carry when crossing borders, travelers are required by federal law to report currency or monetary interments in excess of $10,000 to customs officials.