STERLING, Va. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized illicit steroids in international mail and unreported currency from a traveler at Washington Dulles International Airport during the weekend.

$11,097 unreported

currency

A South Korean woman, who is a U.S. lawful permanent resident, reported to CBP officers that she possessed $500. Officers explained currency reporting requirements to the woman and she amended her declaration to report that she had $6,000. During a baggage examination, CBP officers discovered a total of $11,097 in her baggage. CBP officers seized all the currency and released the woman. She arrived on a flight from Seoul on Sunday.

It is legal to carry large sums of currency into or out of the United States. However, federal law requires that travelers who possess $10,000 or more in currency or other monetary instruments must report it all to a CBP officer at the airport, seaport, or land border crossing when entering or leaving the country. Read more about currency reporting requirements.

Consequences for violating U.S. currency reporting laws are severe; penalties may include seizure of most or all of the traveler’s currency, and potential criminal charges.

Also, while inspecting mail that arrived from London on Saturday, CBP officers seized 22 parcels that contained illicit anabolic steroids. The parcels were destined to addresses in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia, The combined weight of the steroids was 5,800 grams or about 12 pounds, 12 ounces.

Anabolic steroids are considered a Schedule III controlled substance and are illegal to possess in the United States without a prescription.

“Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to intercepting dangerous and unlawful products at our nation’s borders and these anabolic steroid seizures are a testament to that commitment,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP officers’ border enforcement vigilance is paramount to helping to keep our communities safe.”

One of 22 mail parcels

of anabolic steroids.

All travelers, both U.S. citizens and foreign visitors, are encouraged to Know Before You Go to help ease their international arrivals inspection, and to visit CBP’s Travel website to learn more about rules governing travel to and from the U.S.

CBP uses a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong. On a typical day, CBP seizes an average of about $207,000 in unreported or illicit currency along our nation’s borders. Learn more about what CBP accomplishes during a typical day during 2019.

CBP's border security mission is led at our nation’s Ports of Entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders, or visit www.CBP.gov.