Originally Posted by ESpen36

IMHO, you made a mistake helping out your friends this way. If you end up having to explain the cash to the VZL authorities as you depart the country, they might confiscate it. I am not an attorney, but you might have violated local government/CADIVI regulations by using your US-issued credit card to purchase tickets originating in Venezuela for Venezuelan nationals. Then, when those individuals paid you back in USD instead of VEF, they might have violated CADIVI regulations as well. (CADIVI is the government agency that monitors and regulates all transactions involving foreign exchange in Veneuela. Exchange controls are extremely tight in this country.)

If you are successful in exporting the currency from Venezuela, US regulations require you to declare and report any amount over US$10,000 that you carry into the country in cash and/or other instruments. It is legal to bring ANY amount of money into the USA as long as you declare it properly. Be sure to take into account ALL cash or monetary instruments you are carrying. For example, if you have just under the limit in an envelope, but your wallet of everyday-use cash brings the total amount over $10k, you must declare and report it. Ask any CBP officer for assistance so that you fill out the correct form. When in doubt, declare it anyway. Better to be safe than sorry.