Photo Credit DHSPhiladelphia – CBP officers seized $40,100 Tuesday from a Cameroon citizen who arrived to Philadelphia International Airport from Belgium and who repeatedly failed to comply with federal currency reporting requirements. click for hi-res CBP officers discover $30,000 dollars in U.S. bills concealed inside magazine. The passenger repeatedly declared possessing only $10,100, and produced an envelope that contained $10,000, and he pulled a $100 bill from his pants pocket. Officers discovered an additional $30,000 in bills concealed between the pages of a catalogue in a sealed manila envelope packed in the passenger’s luggage. There is no limit to how much currency travelers can import or export; however 31 U.S.C. 5316 requires travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.“Travelers who deliberately refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements run the risk of losing their currency, and may potentially face criminal charges. The easiest way to hold on to your currency is to report it,” said Allan Martocci, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. Officers seized the combined amount of $40,100, and then released $500 to the passenger for humanitarian purposes. They also advised the passenger on the process to petition for his currency.CBP routinely conducts random currency compliance inspections of inbound and outbound travelers. Travelers are encouraged visit CBP’s Travel website to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S. ( Travel ) 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
