In a proactive move ahead of the Christmas season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport thwarted a potential currency violation, seizing an astonishing $68,000 from a family bound for Nigeria.
The pre-holiday crackdown underscores the CBP’s commitment to enforcing currency regulations and preventing illicit financial activities.
According to wjla.com, although there is no limit to how much money travelers may bring to or take out of the U.S., authorities said the family failed to report their possession of $68,216, violating the requirement to disclose amounts exceeding $10,000.
The discovery was made during outbound inspections for a flight to Cairo, Egypt.
Officials said the family was asked how much currency they had in their possession and the father reported that the family possessed $10,000 and signed a form formally reporting that amount.
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However, during a search of the family’s carry-on bags, CBP officers found money in multiple envelopes.
The total currency amounted to $68,216.
CBP officers seized the currency — leaving the family with only $216 to continue their journey.
“Seizing a traveler’s currency is a very serious consequence, but one that can easily be avoided just by the traveler truthfully reporting to a Customs and Border Protection officer all of the currency they are taking with them,” said Marc E. Calixte, Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C.
