Baltimore Washington International Airport Cash Seizure Lawyer

Baltimore Washington International Airport Cash Seizure Lawyer

Your cash got seized at BWI. Maybe you were heading to Jamaica to visit family. Maybe you’re a business owner traveling with payment for inventory. CBP officers stopped you, asked questions, then took your money. Now you’re holding a seizure receipt wondering if you’ll ever see those funds again.

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group. We’re a second-generation law firm managed by Todd Spodek, with over 50 years combined experience defending federal asset forfeiture cases. We’ve recovered cash seized at BWI and airports nationwide. This article explains why BWI has particularly high seizure rates, the 30-day deadline you’re facing, and how to navigate the District of Maryland federal court system where your case will be heard.

Why BWI Targets Cash

Baltimore Washington International Airport sees aggressive currency enforcement. CBP officers seized $80,388 in unreported currency in just 15 incidents over five weeks in 2021. That’s not annual data – that’s five weeks. The seizure rate at BWI is disproportionately high compared to similarly sized airports because of the routes it services.

Jamaica. Dominican Republic. Caribbean destinations. These routes get scrutinized heavily. Travelers carrying cash to family in the Caribbean – completely legitimate reasons – become seizure targets because CBP views these destinations as high-risk for money laundering. Officers see someone traveling to Kingston with $15,000 and immediate suspicion kicks in, even when the traveler has done nothing illegal.

The $10,000 reporting requirement under the Bank Secrecy Act applies to international travel. You must file FinCEN Form 105 when carrying more than that amount. But even properly declared money gets seized if CBP doesn’t like your answers. We handled a case where someone declared $22,000 on the form, provided documentation, but CBP questioned why they needed cash instead of a wire transfer. The traveler stammered, seemed nervous – perfectly natural when federal agents are interrogating you – and CBP seized the money citing “suspicious behavior.”

BWI is owned by the Maryland Aviation Administration, a state agency. But federal CBP enforces currency laws. This creates an odd dynamic where Maryland operates the airport but sees none of the forfeiture revenue – that goes to federal coffers through the Treasury Suspense Fund. Maryland provides the infrastructure, federal government profits from seizures.

The 30-Day Deadline Applies Here

After CBP seizes your cash at BWI, you receive a Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants. This notice explains the seizure and gives you 30 days from the date of the notice to file a verified claim. Miss that deadline and your money is gone. Permanently. The government wins by default.

Filing in the District of Maryland federal court requires specific procedures. The verified claim must state you’re the owner and want the property returned, with proper notarization and service on the Baltimore CBP office. Then you have 20 additional days to file an Answer to the government’s forfeiture complaint. These aren’t forms you download and fill out yourself – federal court filings have technical requirements, and any error means default judgment against you.

We’ve seen multiple BWI travelers lose money because they thought the process was simple. One client had $18,000 seized flying to Jamaica for a family emergency. He filed paperwork 32 days after the notice – two days late. The Assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore moved for default. Judge granted it. $18,000 gone. He hired us afterward, begging us to fix it. We couldn’t – the deadline is absolute, no extensions, no excuses.

Common BWI Seizure Patterns

Most BWI seizures follow predictable patterns. Traveler heading to Jamaica or Caribbean destination. Carrying $12,000 to $30,000 in cash. Declares it on Form 105, thinks they’ve followed the law. CBP pulls them aside: “Why are you traveling with this much cash?” The traveler explains – family needs, business transaction, cultural preference for cash. CBP doesn’t find the explanation satisfactory. Seizure.

Another pattern: Travelers from Jamaica returning to U.S. with undeclared currency. CBP seized $41,933 from travelers heading to Jamaica in one incident, and in another case seized $82,000 from four men returning from Jamaica who failed to report it properly. These cases demonstrate CBP’s focus on Jamaica routes specifically.

Some travelers get caught because they don’t understand the reporting requirement applies both directions – entering AND leaving the United States. You must file Form 105 when departing with more than $10,000, not just when entering. Many people file when coming back but forget to file when leaving, and CBP seizes on the return trip citing the departure violation.

District of Maryland Negotiations

Your BWI case gets handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, specifically the Asset Forfeiture Unit in Baltimore. These prosecutors handle hundreds of currency seizures annually from BWI. They know the patterns, they know the defenses, they know what evidence convinces them to settle high or fight for full forfeiture.

Having a lawyer with District of Maryland experience matters. We know which prosecutors are reasonable and which fight every case to trial. We know Baltimore federal judges’ tendencies on civil forfeiture motions. We know the local procedures that aren’t written in any rulebook but affect how cases move through the system. A New York lawyer filing in Maryland federal court is starting from scratch – learning the local customs while your 30-day and 50-day deadlines are ticking.

Most BWI cases settle. Government offers 60% to 75% return depending on evidence strength. They’re willing to negotiate because full litigation costs them resources, and they’ve already accomplished their goal of disrupting what they perceive as money laundering networks – even if your money was completely legitimate. Settlement means you get something back within 4 to 6 months instead of fighting for 18+ months hoping for 100% but risking total loss.

Evidence that helps BWI cases: Bank statements showing legitimate deposits before travel. Business invoices if it’s commercial funds. Family documentation if it’s emergency assistance – hospital records, communications with relatives. Employment records showing income that explains the amount. Tax returns proving you earn enough to have that much cash. Basically, paper trail proving the source and necessity of cash payment method.

Civil asset forfeiture lets government seize property suspected of connection to illegal activity without ever charging you with a crime. At BWI, this means CBP can take your cash based solely on suspicion – you seemed nervous, your story didn’t sound convincing, you’re traveling to a “high-risk” destination. No arrest, no prosecution, no conviction. Just property gone and you fighting to prove it’s legitimate.

At Spodek Law Group – we’ve handled BWI seizures and recovered funds when clients thought they had no chance. Todd Spodek has litigated in multiple federal districts including Maryland, building relationships with prosecutors that help in negotiations. If CBP seized your cash at BWI and that 30-day deadline is approaching, call us at 212-300-5196. Every day that passes brings you closer to permanent forfeiture.