Originally Posted by
law dawg
If it's been dropped in the mail just that day then you're right - I can't prove it (of course it says that travelers are supposed to file the form with Customs at the port of entry or departure....). I'd would detain you long enough for questioning and notification to CBP. I'd ask things like what kind of questions were on the form, how many pages was it, etc. Things you should know if you really filled it out. Then I'd watch to see how nervous you were, other little tells. If I believed you, off you'd go. Ten minutes tops. If I didn't, off you'd go still but with me forwarding all the information I had to the appropriate agencies.
The only proper answer for a passenger to give when asked if he filed the form is to refuse to answer without a lawyer present. Any other answer puts the person in potential legal jeopardy. You previously stated that CBP can talk to you if you have reasonable suspicion that the money was undeclared. But if all you have is the money itself and a complete refusal to answer any questions about it, how do you develop that RS?