Even though the COVID-19 health crisis has reduced the number of people traveling at the airport, cash seizures at the airport have increased in recent years, to the point where the Institute for Justice has filed a class action suit against the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Seizures of U.S. Currency for forfeiture are common in California’s busiest airports including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport (was Orange County Airport)(SNA), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), and San Diego International Airport (SAN).

The cash might be seized by federal, state, or local law enforcement officers or agents. Based on highly circumstantial evidence, the authorities might claim the money is being used for drug trafficking or money laundering. Nevertheless, criminal prosecutions are rare. Instead, the authorities just seize the money under state or federal civil asset forfeiture laws.

San Diego Attorney for Cash Seizures

Michael Cindrich represents clients in currency seizures at the busiest airports in California including the airports in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego.

After the seizure, act quickly to hire attorney Michael Cindrich to file a claim for court action on your behalf. The claim for court action is a demand that all of the money seized is returned to you.

Michael Cindrich is familiar with the federal agencies that seize cash including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). He is also familiar with the tactics used by state and local law enforcement agencies throughout California. The Law Offices of Michael E. Cindrich serve San Diego County, including the cities of Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, National City and La Mesa, and San Diego proper.

Contact Michael Cindrich today for a free consultation at (619) 262-2500.

Information Center for Airport Cash Seizures

Back to top

Airport Cash Seizures

After a seizure of money at an airport in California, you should be provided with a written receipt. The receipt might list the amount of money seized or just say “undisclosed amount of U.S. Currency.”

After the money is seized, a notice of seizure will arrive in the mail within 60 days. You do NOT have to wait for the “notice of seizure” to arrive before you take action. Instead, attorney Michael Cindrich can help you immediately file a “claim” for the seized U.S. Currency. Filing that claim immediately after the money is seized might help you speed up the process of getting the money back.

Although state and federal law does not prohibit carrying more than $10,000 cash on a domestic flight, if law enforcement officers find the money, they might seize it as illicit proceeds of a suspected drug or money laundering scheme.

On international flights, the traveler must declare being in possession of more than $10,000 by filling out a FinCEN 105 Form. Even when the money is seized because of a failure to disclose it on the FinCEN 105 Form, we can help.

Back to top

Busiest Airports in California for Asset Seizures

The busiest airports in California for cash seizures under federal law for civil asset forfeitures include:

  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN)(Lindbergh Field) in San Diego
  • Oakland International Airport (OAK) in Oakland
  • Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) in San Jose
  • John Wayne Airport (was Orange County Airport) (SNA) in Orange County
  • Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in Sacramento
  • Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Ontario
  • Hollywood Burbank Airport (was Bob Hope Airport) in Burbank
  • Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field)(LGB) in Long Beach
  • Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) in Palm Springs
  • Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in Fresno
  • Monterey Regional Airport (was Monterey Peninsula Airport) (MRY) in Monterey
  • Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa
  • San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (McChesney Field) (SBP) in San Luis Obispo
  • Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (Santa Barbara Airport) (SBA) in Santa Barbara

The busiest airports for the seizures of money for forfeiture in the greater Los Angeles area include:

  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX);
  • Ontario International Airport (ONT); and
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA).

Seizures of cash occur at small airports as well. For example, many of the cash seizures at the Hollywood Burbank Airport (formerly known as Bob Hope Airport) involve detentions by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Police. The surveillance video at the airport is controlled by the Burbank–Glendale–Pasadena Airport Authority.

Back to top

Bringing More than $10,000 on an International Flight

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, you can legally transport any amount of currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States, but if you carry more than $10,000, you must declare the amount by filing a Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (known as the “FinCEN Form 105”).

If your undisclosed money was seized, call Michael Cindrich. As an experienced civil asset forfeiture lawyer in San Diego, CA, he can help you demand that the money is returned quickly by filing a claim for court action to bypass any administrative proceeding for mitigation or remission.

In many of these cases, the federal agents engage in an illegal stop, detention, or seizure. Sometimes the tactics used by Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) are blatantly unconstitutional.

Back to top

Additional Resources

How Much Money Can I Bring? – The US Government indicates that must disclose if you are traveling with more than $10,000 in cash if you are entering or exiting the United States. These include paper money and coins, travelers’ checks, cashier’s checks, promissory notes and money orders.

Fill Out a Currency Reporting Form – This form is the disclosure form for large cash amounts. The form can be filled out online and should be available to TSA agents when you declare the cash at the airport. However, it is usually best practice to also keep a paper copy with you, just in case.

TSA Claim – If your cash has been seized, the first step you should take is to file a claim against the TSA. While the claims page says that the TSA has up to 6 months to resolve your claim, that number is lower in cash seizure cases. For best results, you should contract a lawyer to help file your claim.

Back to top

Hire a Lawyer for Airport Cash Seizures in San Diego County, CA

Attorney Michael Cindrich has decades of experience protecting clients against intrusions on their freedom. The Law Offices of Michael E. Cindrich serve San Diego County, including the cities of Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, National City and La Mesa, and of course San Diego proper.

Contact Michael Cindrich today for a free consultation at (619) 262-2500.

Back to top