Nearly $92,000 has been seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents during five recent violations of federal reporting laws at Washington Dulles International Airport.
While most travelers lost the majority of the money they failed to declare, they were often granted a comparably small parting sum for "humanitarian purposes," CBD said.
Travelers can carry as much cash as they like into and out of the U.S., but federal law requires those carrying $10,000 or more worth of currency must report it to CBP and fill out a U.S. Treasury Department financial form.
Officers seized $18,171 from a family heading to Germany Thursday, after they reported carrying only $9,500.
Tuesday, officers seized $15,650 from a woman boarding a flight to Austria, after she reported having only $9,000.
Another traveler to Austria had $22,449 seized Wednesday after reporting only 15,000 Euros.
A family heading to Ghana had $22,385 seized after the husband, wife and wife's sister reported having $5,000 and $7,000. Additional money was found in other envelopes they carried.
Two women heading to the United Arab Emirates Sunday had $13,164 confiscated after reporting only having $9,500.
The consequences for carrying such large, undisclosed sums of cash can vary, from loss of the currency to criminal charges, CBP said.
