Failure to Declare Cash Haul Leads to US Seizure

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than $70,000 in previously unreported cash from a COSCO-operated bulk carrier during what started out as a routine inspection. The currency was discovered hidden in the purser’s safe, which had not been declared in accordance with U.S. customs regulations, triggering enforcement action and temporary detention of the funds.

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Under U.S. law, anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments must declare it to CBP. Failure to do so can result in seizure of the funds and potential civil or criminal penalties.

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In this case, CBP officers noted that the Captain had only filed a partial report at an earlier port call in Maine but failed to disclose additional funds that were received from the vessel’s agent.  CBP officers stressed the importance of commercial captains understanding and complying with U.S. reporting compliance, and said the Captain was “in hot water” for his failure to file a new report or amend his previous report from Maine.

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This enforcement action highlights the importance of crew awareness of customs requirements, particularly when crew rotation or shore leave involves international arrivals and departures. For ship operators and supply chain partners, the incident serves as a reminder that compliance extends beyond cargo and operational paperwork — it must also include crew conduct and protocol to ensure procedure is followed, particularly when failures to do so can carry regulatory consequences.

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Effective pre-arrival procedures, crew briefings and compliance checklists are vital to minimizing operational disruptions tied to customs enforcement actions.

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Read More at The Maritime Executive