Hiding cash in Canada?

[a1fabweld]

I ran into a guy I know today & he was telling me about his recent road trip to Canada to visit family. He crossed into Canada before the election, then crossed back into the US a few days after. The trip there was nothing out of the ordinary, but coming back he noticed a large military/LE presence at the border armed with black rifles & dogs. He asked the border guard what was going on & he was told that since the election results were announced, there had been a run on people taking large amounts of cash to Canada. He was told that they has seized 100M in US dollars at the border in a matter of 2-3 days. The sum of cash that could be carried across the border was limited to $500 now. The dogs were apparently trained for cash sniffing? This sounds a little strange but this guy has proven to be credible in the past.

Can any of you guys up north confirm this?

[Blstr88]

I live in NH...not on the border, but about 3 hours from it...this is the first Im hearing of this.

Why would people be bringing cash into Canada...? To change US dollars into Canadian dollars? Does anyone think that if the US dollar collapsed, the Canadian dollar would be any better off?

I think if anyone wanted to turn there US dollars into something credible it would be gold/silver/guns/property/etc...

[a1fabweld]

Maybe to get their money in foreign accounts? For tax purposes? Beats me.

[Iraqgunz]

Sounds like some BS fairy tale. I am pretty sure that they cannot arbitrarily change the amount of money that can be legally taken in and out without a change to the law. There are easier ways of getting money to foreign accounts.

[kmrtnsn]

First off, the story is highly exaggerated, if even true at all. You can carry all the cash you want to, to wherever you want to, it is all perfectly legal. You must, however, declare amounts of cash or other monetary instruments over $10,000.00.

Hide cash and try to cross the border with it and it will be seized.

Declare one amount and actually possess a different amount and it will be seized.

Once seized you can petition DHS to get you money back but be prepared to have to PROVE a legitimate source of that income. Say you are crossing into Mexico and are stopped by the efficient CBP Officers and they ask you, "how much money are you carrying?", you say $2,000.00 and they search your person and car and find $20,000.00, that money is being seized. Have a high enough amount, say, $200,000.00 hidden in your car you'll be arrested and the money seized. Bulk cash smuggling is a crime taken very seriously at the border (that includes international airports and other functional equivalents thereof).

For those whose panties are going to puff out their chests and get their panties in a wad about Fourth Amendment searches at the border or the functional equivalent thereof, SCOTUS has long held that the border or ports (including international airports and shipping hubs like UPS, DHL, and FedEx) are outside the Fourth Amendment requirement for a warrant.

[The_War_Wagon]

You'd be better off just exchanging American dollars for Canadian dollars. Canadian currency is worth more, and that's not likely to change anytime soon!

[Hmac]

I see money-sniffing dogs at the Miami Airport all the time, usually patrolling the boarding gates rather than arrival gates.

I can't think of any reason I'd want to cross the border to hide money in Canada.

[mikelowrey]

First off, the story is highly exaggerated, if even true at all. You can carry all the cash you want to, to wherever you want to, it is all perfectly legal. You must, however, declare amounts of cash or other monetary instruments over $10,000.00.

Hide cash and try to cross the border with it and it will be seized.

Declare one amount and actually possess a different amount and it will be seized.

Once seized you can petition DHS to get you money back but be prepared to have to PROVE a legitimate source of that income. Say you are crossing into Mexico and are stopped by the efficient CBP Officers and they ask you, "how much money are you carrying?", you say $2,000.00 and they search your person and car and find $20,000.00, that money is being seized. Have a high enough amount, say, $200,000.00 hidden in your car you'll be arrested and the money seized. Bulk cash smuggling is a crime taken very seriously at the border (that includes international airports and other functional equivalents thereof).

For those whose panties are going to puff out their chests and get their panties in a wad about Fourth Amendment searches at the border or the functional equivalent thereof, SCOTUS has long held that the border or ports (including international airports and shipping hubs like UPS, DHL, and FedEx) are outside the Fourth Amendment requirement for a warrant.

200% correct. +1

[6933]

Lived outside of the country in several areas for a while. Carried cash(1000's) crossing both ways multiple times. Never had an issue.

[kmrtnsn]

31 USC § 5332 - Bulk cash smuggling into or out of the United States

(a) Criminal Offense.—
(1) In general.— Whoever, with the intent to evade a currency reporting requirement under section 5316, knowingly conceals more than $10,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, and transports or transfers or attempts to transport or transfer such currency or monetary instruments from a place within the United States to a place outside of the United States, or from a place outside the United States to a place within the United States, shall be guilty of a currency smuggling offense and subject to punishment pursuant to subsection (b).
(2) Concealment on person.— For purposes of this section, the concealment of currency on the person of any individual includes concealment in any article of clothing worn by the individual or in any luggage, backpack, or other container worn or carried by such individual.
(b) Penalty.—
(1) Term of imprisonment.— A person convicted of a currency smuggling offense under subsection (a), or a conspiracy to commit such offense, shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years.
(2) Forfeiture.— In addition, the court, in imposing sentence under paragraph (1), shall order that the defendant forfeit to the United States, any property, real or personal, involved in the offense, and any property traceable to such property.
(3) Procedure.— The seizure, restraint, and forfeiture of property under this section shall be governed by section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act.
(4) Personal money judgment.— If the property subject to forfeiture under paragraph (2) is unavailable, and the defendant has insufficient substitute property that may be forfeited pursuant to section 413(p) of the Controlled Substances Act, the court shall enter a personal money judgment against the defendant for the amount that would be subject to forfeiture.
(c) Civil Forfeiture.—
(1) In general.— Any property involved in a violation of subsection (a), or a conspiracy to commit such violation, and any property traceable to such violation or conspiracy, may be seized and forfeited to the United States.
(2) Procedure.— The seizure and forfeiture shall be governed by the procedures governing civil forfeitures in money laundering cases pursuant to section 981 (a)(1)(A) of title 18, United States Code.
(3) Treatment of certain property as involved in the offense.— For purposes of this subsection and subsection (b), any currency or other monetary instrument that is concealed or intended to be concealed in violation of subsection (a) or a conspiracy to commit such violation, any article, container, or conveyance used, or intended to be used, to conceal or transport the currency or other monetary instrument, and any other property used, or intended to be used, to facilitate the offense, shall be considered property involved in the offense.
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(a) Criminal Offense.—
(1) In general.— Whoever, with the intent to evade a currency reporting requirement under section 5316, knowingly conceals more than $10,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, and transports or transfers or attempts to transport or transfer such currency or monetary instruments from a place within the United States to a place outside of the United States, or from a place outside the United States to a place within the United States, shall be guilty of a currency smuggling offense and subject to punishment pursuant to subsection (b).
(2) Concealment on person.— For purposes of this section, the concealment of currency on the person of any individual includes concealment in any article of clothing worn by the individual or in any luggage, backpack, or other container worn or carried by such individual.
(b) Penalty.—
(1) Term of imprisonment.— A person convicted of a currency smuggling offense under subsection (a), or a conspiracy to commit such offense, shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years.
(2) Forfeiture.— In addition, the court, in imposing sentence under paragraph (1), shall order that the defendant forfeit to the United States, any property, real or personal, involved in the offense, and any property traceable to such property.
(3) Procedure.— The seizure, restraint, and forfeiture of property under this section shall be governed by section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act.
(4) Personal money judgment.— If the property subject to forfeiture under paragraph (2) is unavailable, and the defendant has insufficient substitute property that may be forfeited pursuant to section 413(p) of the Controlled Substances Act, the court shall enter a personal money judgment against the defendant for the amount that would be subject to forfeiture.
(c) Civil Forfeiture.—
(1) In general.— Any property involved in a violation of subsection (a), or a conspiracy to commit such violation, and any property traceable to such violation or conspiracy, may be seized and forfeited to the United States.
(2) Procedure.— The seizure and forfeiture shall be governed by the procedures governing civil forfeitures in money laundering cases pursuant to section 981 (a)(1)(A) of title 18, United States Code.
(3) Treatment of certain property as involved in the offense.— For purposes of this subsection and subsection (b), any currency or other monetary instrument that is concealed or intended to be concealed in violation of subsection (a) or a conspiracy to commit such violation, any article, container, or conveyance used, or intended to be used, to conceal or transport the currency or other monetary instrument, and any other property used, or intended to be used, to facilitate the offense, shall be considered property involved in the offense.

19 CFR 162.22 - Seizure of conveyances.

Seizure of conveyances.
(a) General applicability. If it shall appear to any officer authorized to board conveyances and make seizures that there has been a violation of any law of the United States whereby a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other conveyance, or any merchandise on board of or imported by such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other conveyance is liable to forfeiture, the officer shall seize such conveyance and arrest any person engaged in such violation. Common carriers are exempted from seizure except under certain specified conditions as provided for in section 594, Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1594) and section 274(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(b)(1) ).
(b) Facilitating importation contrary to law. Except as provided in § 171.52(b), every vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing, which is being or has been used in, or to aid or facilitate, the importation, bringing in, unlading, landing, removal, concealing, harboring or subsequent transportation of any article which is being, or has been introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law, shall be seized and held subject to forfeiture. Any person who directs, assists financially or otherwise, or is in any way concerned in any such unlawful activity shall be liable to a penalty equal to the value of the article or articles involved.
(c) Common carrier clearance. Unless specifically authorized by law, clearance of vessels within the common carrier exception of section 594, Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1594 ), shall not be refused for the purpose of collecting a fine imposed upon the master or owner, unless either of them was a party to the illegal act. The Government's remedy in such cases is limited to an action against the master or owner.
(d) Maritime Administration vessels; exemption from penalty. (1) When a vessel owned or chartered under bareboat charter by the Maritime Administration and operated for its account becomes liable for the payment of a penalty incurred for violation of the Customs revenue or navigation laws, clearance of the vessel shall not be withheld nor shall any proceedings be taken against the vessel itself looking to the enforcement of such liability.
(2) This exemption shall not in any way be considered to relieve the master of any such vessel or other person incurring such penalties from personal liability for payment.