Originally Posted by
unagi1
There is, or used to be, teams of Customs officers called CETs (Contraband Enforcement Teams), they be called something else these days. I saw them in Honolulu more than a couple of times, harassing Japanese tourists leaving for NRT and/or KIX. They tended to wear the 'subdued' uniform and patching. They would show up in the boarding area 30-40 min prior to boarding and 'randomly' jam up Japanese tourists, in particular asking about currency, which I thought odd esp since there are/were no casinos in Hawaii that I'm aware of. Guess they are working elsewhere now on outbound travelers.
I never understood this obsession with currency by CBP agents. The law is only that you have to declare any currency over $10k, but no law prevents you from leaving the country with currency. My guess is that these agents get a reward for trying to steal, I mean confiscate, any undeclared cash over $10k. I'm curious what happens in this case, as the SCOTUS ruled that cash could not be forfeited solely for non-declaration. My guess is that they still seize it anyway and hope you don't bother fighting it.