I'm sure if there are "many" cases you can cite just one that occurred whilst flying in or out of LAS. As a blackjack player and now a poker player for 15 years, part of that time on a large blackjack team, I can assure that the DEA is not in the habit of seizing large sums of cash going in or out of LAS. I suspect the DEA would be run out of the state of Nevada, and perhaps out of several other gambling states such as Mississippi, on a rail, if they tried such a thing. I do know many people who had their $$$ seized by state police whilst driving on various slim pretexts. But, please, don't make up your own facts. Believe it or not, the federal authorities are well aware that -- gasp! -- gambling occurs in Las Vegas. The "risk" you cite appears to be invented.
When leaving/entering the U.S. you are requested to file a short form declaring the cash if it's more than the equivalent of U.S. $10,000 -- and, no, customs doesn't seize the cash either. They just ask you idiotic questions about how they, too, can become an international gambler.
I am less concerned about DEA and more concerned about light-fingered TSA agents or other passengers. Once, I had a TSA agent try to send me through the X-ray ahead of my bag on some slim pretext, and I had to refuse politely but firmly. "This is Las Vegas, and I won some money. I need to see my bag go into the machine before I step through." He relented. Another time, I had to stop a thief from picking up my bag, on the pretense that it was hers, when I came out the other side of the X-ray. These are real concerns that actually happen. The DEA deciding that your piddly few tens of thousands is worth their time, no. A local or state police department will think that's a lot of money, so it's dangerous to drive with such sums. But to the federal authorities? It's chicken feed. But, as others say, if you're truly worried, there's the Wells Fargo and the BOA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by full_house_fan
There may be no "law" against carrying unlimited amounts of cash on an airplane/through an airport, but there ARE many cases of people getting their money seized by DEA agents under "suspicion" that it might be drug money or money from some sort of criminal activity.
The point of my question is: how does a USA citizen flying domestically (i.e Vegas to home city in USA) best avoid this risk with a large sum of cash when traveling by air?
Last edited by goldeneagle; 06-18-2010 at 09:19 PM.