What should you do if you suspect a traveler is carrying currency over $10,000?

• A. Follow Currency Reporting requirements, ask about source and destination, and report to CBP if necessary.
• B. Ignore the amount and proceed.
• C. Detain the traveler on suspicion of trafficking.
• D. Report to local police only.

Answer: (A)

When a traveler appears to be carrying currency or monetary instruments over the $10,000 threshold, the action must be to apply currency reporting requirements. This means you should prompt for a declaration, ask about the source and destination of the funds, and complete the proper reporting with CBP if the situation calls for it. These reporting steps exist to detect and deter money laundering and illicit finance at the border, and CBP uses the information to determine whether further action is needed.

This approach is the correct path because it follows federal requirements for cross-border movement of large sums of money, ensures transparency of the transaction, and provides a paper trail for enforcement agencies. Simply ignoring the amount or detaining someone on suspicion of trafficking without a basis tied to currency reporting would bypass mandatory procedures. Reporting only to local police omits the federal currency reporting obligations and the border-crossing context.