Dog Alerts Customs Officers to $16K in Undeclared Cash

Officials say a detection dog at Washington Dulles International Airport alerted them to a large amount of undeclared cash a traveler was carrying.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say a U.S. citizen arriving from Qatar declared $8,000 on Monday when he landed. But when an officer in the inspection area led a dog over to sniff the man's luggage, officials say the dog alerted the officer.

Officials say the man stated again that he was carrying $8,000, but when officers examined his luggage they found an envelope containing nearly $25,000.

There's no limit to how much cash travelers can carry, but they must declare amounts larger than $10,000.

"The traveler was given the opportunity to truthfully report his currency. The easiest way to hold on to your money is to report it," said Frances B. Garcia, Acting CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington.

Officers seized the cash and told the traveler how to petition to get it back. The man was not charged.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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