The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it seized more than US$16,000 from a Jamaican citizen as he awaited his flight to the Caribbean island at the Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday.
It said that the unidentified man, who is also a “US lawful permanent resident” had verbally indicated to authorities that he was in possession of only US$6,000.
“Officers explained federal currency reporting requirements, and the man verbally and in writing reported that he possessed US$8,000. Officers discovered US$16,542 in the man’s carry-on bag. Officers seized the currency and released the traveller.
“It is perfectly legal to carry large sums of currency in or out of the United States. However, federal law requires that travellers who possess US$10,000 or more in currency or other monetary instruments must report it all to a CBP officer at the airport, seaport or land border crossing when entering or leaving the country,” the CBP said.
It said consequences for violating US currency reporting laws are severe; penalties may include seizure of most or all of the traveller’s currency, and potential criminal charges.
“When Customs and Border Protection officers encounter travellers who don’t properly declare or they conceal large amounts of currency when leaving the country, there can be links to transnational criminal organisations,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s field operations director in Baltimore, Maryland.
On a typical day, CBP said it seizes an average of about US$290,000 in unreported or illicit currency “along our nation’s borders”.
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Why him never open a us account with Jamaica national in ja and send home his money little little. That’s how most Jamaican i would believe save them money from Jamaica and England. Jamaica national us account and local . Why would you want to travel with so much cash on you to Jamaica in airport that man bait up himself. This Trump time us citizen or we get flags and watched traveling anywhere in the world from USA .
He’s dum!!!!!! Why lie? Smh!! Y’all non American citizens really don’t understand how the U.S works lmaoooo stay in Jamaica and I quote in y’all words “THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH” :request :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak : tolling eyes
All he had to do was declare it or take two trips.
Maybe, just maybe, he has taken many trips to Jamaica with over $10K each trip. It is call bulk cash smuggling or repatriation of Lotto Scam money.
Him shuddnt badda tell di lie.. him lucky dem dus let him go an nuh much investigation. Suh a wanda what’s di procedure, if any, fi all get back yuh money deh now. Or it gone?
He can get it back but he have to go to court and pay fine.
Better hope him work
You have to know how to read these people. You can’t declare you have $6k then say you have $8k!! They will begin to wonder why lie in the first place and dig deeper. You either stick to your guns or declare it in the first place. Also you can sometimes gauge from their questioning that they already know what you have in your possession, so don’t bother lying to them.
yamhead….open a US account in Jamaica and deposit a check when you go down . maybe the money illegal to begin with so him cant even deposit it in a bank in the US, oh well