Currency Seizures at Airports- Get Money Back from Customs!

If Customs took your cash while flying at the airport, don’t wait. Call San Diego Defenders – Forfeiture Law Firm today at (619) 258-8888. 

Our firm has years of experience handling airport money seizures nationwide, and we take care of everything from paperwork to negotiations. See our recent forfeiture results here.

We offer free consultations and contingency fees, where we don’t get paid unless we win for you!

Traveling with large amounts of cash through U.S. airports can be stressful, especially if you’re going on vacation and are stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs.

Travelers are often surprised to learn that they don’t need to be charged with a crime to have their money seized. Sometimes, Customs adds your friends and family’s money to yours.

If you’re a victim of an airport money seizure by Customs, it is critical to consult with an experienced asset forfeiture attorney to determine the best course of action to get your property back.

• Why Did Customs Seize My Cash?
• Can You Get Your Money Back After a Seizure at the Airport?
• We’ve Helped Innocent Travelers Reclaim Their Seized Funds!

Why Did Customs Seize My Cash?

There is no legal limit to the amount of cash you can carry on a plane, domestically or internationally, but there are rules.

If you are traveling internationally with more than $10,000 in cash or monetary instruments (including traveler’s checks and money orders), federal law (31 USC § 5316(a)(1)) requires you to report it by filing a FinCEN Form 105 with Customs.

Failing to do so can lead to an airport cash seizure by Customs, even if the money is legally earned. Intentionally concealing amounts of cash over $10,000 or dividing them amongst other travelers may also result in seizure. This happens when friends and family travel together.

Customs officers often rely on notices from the TSA, who may spot large sums of cash during security screening. This can trigger an interrogation and a possible search of your belongings by Customs officers, leading to a seizure of the cash.

If agents suspect that your money may be connected to criminal activity or was not reported, they may seize it on the spot under asset forfeiture laws. Commonly cited code sections we encounter for airport cash seizures include: 31 USC § 5316, 31 USC § 5317, 31 USC § 5324, and 31 USC § 5332.

Can You Get Your Money Back After a Seizure at the Airport?

Yes! But time is critical.

After a currency seizure at the airport, Customs will generate a Custody Receipt (CF 6051 S Form) and send a Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants through certified mail, which outlines your right to contest the forfeiture. You have a limited number of days from the date printed on this letter to take action before your currency is permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

There are several options in your Election of Proceedings form, including filing a petition for remission or mitigation, or filing a claim and referring your case for court action.

Although a claim may sound intimidating, Attorney Dan Smith, with 35 years of experience in criminal defense, generally recommends filing one to ensure due process and a timely return of your currency.

Petitions offer very little due process. See our blog explaining petitions versus claims here.

With claims, attorneys representing Customs have 90 days to litigate with Attorney Smith, whereas petitions have no time limit for a response. We have seen clients wait upwards of 6 months to hear back from Customs, just to find out their petitions had been denied.

We’ve Helped Innocent Travelers Reclaim Their Seized Funds!

San Diego Defenders – Forfeiture Law Firm has successfully helped clients recover tens of thousands of dollars taken at airports across the country.

In one of our recent successful cases, a traveler flying out of LAX with over $20,000 in lawful funds was stopped and questioned by Customs. They seized their money just before boarding an international flight to India due to a failure to report.

The cash had no illegal intent and was for a family engagement ceremony. After retaining our office, San Diego Defenders – Forfeiture Law Firm recovered the full amount of the funds using the claim strategy.

Fight Your Airport Money Seizure Today!

If Customs has already seized your cash at the airport, don’t wait. 

Contact San Diego Defenders – Forfeiture Law Firm today at (619) 258-8888. Our firm is well-versed in asset forfeiture and federal laws. We fight to get back what’s rightfully yours from any airport, nationwide.

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This includes airports such as:

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Cross Border Xpress (CBX)

Birmingham International Airport (BHM)

Huntsville International Airport (HSV)

Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)

Juneau International Airport (JNU)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Tucson International Airport (TUS)

Yuma International Airport (YUM)

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Key West International Airport (EYW)

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN)

Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (ATL)

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Boston, Logan International Airport (BOS)

Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)

Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

St. Louis, Lambert International Airport (STL)

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)

Newark International Airport (EWR)

Albuquerque International Airport (ALB)

Albany International Airport (ALB)

New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Portland International Airport (PDX)

Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Spokane International Airport (GEG)