US$53,000 seized from Jamaican-bound passenger in Fort Lauderdale

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In early July, a passenger preparing to board a flight to Jamaica was arrested at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than US$53,000 in undeclared cash during an outbound inspection.

According to the CBP report, the incident occurred as officers conducted their routine inspections of passengers departing on a flight bound for Kingston, Jamaica. CBP authorities said that the traveler declared that they were not carrying any currency, but a subsequent search uncovered an amount of US$53,000 in US cash was found.

The individual was taken into custody after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) responded to a call to the scene and federal prosecutors later approved money laundering charges under Title 18, US Code Section 1956. The officials have not released the passenger’s identity.

CBP stressed that there is no limit on the amount of money travelers may legally transport into or out of the United States. However, anyone carrying more than US$10,000 in currency or monetary instruments must report the funds by filing a FinCen Form 105, as the report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments. Making a false declaration or failing to declare the funds can result in the seizure of the money and may lead to civil or criminal penalties.

Commenting on the seizure, Daniel Alonso, director of field operations for CBP in Miami and Tampa field offices, said bulk cash smuggling is a common method used by criminal organizations to move illicit proceeds across international borders.

“Criminal organizations often rely on bulk cask smuggling to move illicit proceeds across international borders,” Alonso said. “CBP officers remain vigilant in identifying these violations and work closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt transnational criminal activities while protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders.”

The seizure forms part of CBP’s wider outbound enforcement strategy, which targeted bulk cash smuggling, narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling and other forms of transnational criminal activities, while facilitating and protecting legitimate International travel and trade.

Authorities have not indicated whether the seized funds are believed to be connected to a broader criminal investigation.