U.S. Customs Seizes Cash from Chinese-Owned Bulker in Baltimore
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials seized a significant amount of unreported cash from the Chinese-owned bulk carrier, *Sheng Ning Hai*, while it was docked at the Port of Baltimore on January 21. Although carrying cash aboard a vessel is not illegal, the incident underscores the importance of adhering to U.S. reporting requirements. The captain of the *Sheng Ning Hai* had previously complied with these regulations at other U.S. ports, raising questions about the oversight during this particular inspection.
The routine inspection began when CBP officers boarded the *Sheng Ning Hai*, which has a deadweight tonnage of 56,716. During this enforcement boarding, officers noted that the vessel’s captain failed to report any currency to them, despite having submitted a report days earlier in Searsport, Maine. Under U.S. law, travelers entering or leaving the country can carry any amount of currency. However, amounts exceeding $10,000 must be reported using a U.S. Treasury Department form.
Discovery of Unreported Cash
CBP officers discovered discrepancies in the captain’s reporting when they learned he had filed a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) 105 submission for $34,480 during the Maine port call. Additionally, the vessel’s agent had provided the captain with an extra $40,000 while in Maine. This information prompted CBP to conduct a more thorough examination of the *Sheng Ning Hai* the following day.
During this detailed inspection, officers located a total of $70,737 in cash stored in the purser’s safe. The captain’s failure to report the additional $40,000 or amend the previous report from Maine led to the seizure of the cash. CBP’s Acting Director of the Baltimore Field Office, Matthew Suarez, commented on the rarity of such violations by commercial ship captains, emphasizing the need for compliance with U.S. laws.
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Despite the cash seizure, the *Sheng Ning Hai* was allowed to continue its journey. Current AIS signals indicate that the vessel is now en route to Mombasa. CBP has stated that it will continue to monitor foreign-flag vessels arriving at U.S. ports to ensure compliance with reporting regulations.
