There were two incidents last week, where people gave their family members or friends, money to carry through US customs and immigration, and were arrested even though nobody was carrying more than US$10,000 (the maximum allowed to carry without declarization).
In the first case, a Bahamian family of five that was travelling to Uruguay (via Miami) was carrying $50,000 between the five of them and US Customs 'determined' that the four family member were carrying the other monies 'on the father's behalf.' The head of the family was charged with failing to declare over US$10,000 and sat in a Bahamian jail for the weekend.
In the 2nd case, a group of 3 friends were leaving The Bahamas with $30,000 from a poker tournament and it was determined that two of the travelers were carrying money for the other traveler.
Now, both of these incidents took place in The Bahamas, were US customs has a pre-clearance facility, so this policy may be isolated to this particular US customs/immigration station, however, there is no reason to believe that this is a new policy and obvious over-reach, by US customs generally.
So be careful when traveling with cash and giving money to family members/friends.
In the first case, a Bahamian family of five that was travelling to Uruguay (via Miami) was carrying $50,000 between the five of them and US Customs 'determined' that the four family member were carrying the other monies 'on the father's behalf.' The head of the family was charged with failing to declare over US$10,000 and sat in a Bahamian jail for the weekend.
In the 2nd case, a group of 3 friends were leaving The Bahamas with $30,000 from a poker tournament and it was determined that two of the travelers were carrying money for the other traveler.
Now, both of these incidents took place in The Bahamas, were US customs has a pre-clearance facility, so this policy may be isolated to this particular US customs/immigration station, however, there is no reason to believe that this is a new policy and obvious over-reach, by US customs generally.
So be careful when traveling with cash and giving money to family members/friends.