Bulk-cash-gamblers: Beware of cash-sniff-dogs at airports

Bulk-cash-gamblers: Beware of cash-sniff-dogs at airports

I read a bulk-cash-smuggling case from which I've learned about some interesting animals: cash-sniff-dogs. I've heard of drug-bomb-sniff dogs, but I didn't know about cash-sniff-dogs at airports (Cash gets smell too?). So, bulk-cash gamblers, beware of those dogs that can sniff $100 bills out from your underwears/carry-ons/checked baggages. Armed with the USA Patriot Act of 2001, inspectors would love to "score" on you with their sniff dogs. For those gamblers who fly with lots of cash, a link to the case is provided down below for your perusal.

of american paper currency. So the more cash you have, the higher the concentration of residue, the easier it is for drug dogs to pick up the smell. And if the dogs catch it, it dosen't matter how clean you are or your backgroung is, they will confiscate it. And to get it back is your problem, and it will take alot of time and most
likely a lawyer.

A friend of mine had 8k sniffed out of his car, driving across country. The 8k consisted of mostly 20's, so there was roughly 400 bills wich was enough to for the dogs to detect.

My primary income is derived from running weekend trade shows at which I collect cash entry fees. I regularly return from these events including crossing state lines carrying more than $10k in cash (sometimes a lot more) and fortunately to date have had no problems.

However, I have long been concerned that if I were pulled over for a traffic infraction and the cash were found or disclosed during a preliminary search of my vehicle that I have no real proof other than business cards or the paper work from the show that the cash is not in fact illegally obtained and having to go through the grief of recovering it. That's assuming that they can't also dream up a reason for holding me in jail until they verify identities etc.

but, I have actually seen police seize money using a charge of "illegal use of U.S. currency", simply because an explanation that satisified them couldn't be given. The worst thing that ever happened to freedom in this country was making it legal for the cops to seize money and then convert it for their own use. Have you ever seen a governmental entity give up that sort of power once "granted". And you people consider the casinos bad-guys..

They should have been prosecuted with stupidity. The airlines have lost too many of my bags for me to trust them with that kind of cash.

if thats your business and you pay taxes as a trade show organizer,then you have nothing to worry about.you guys watch COPS to much.they only show the idiots on that show."what are you doing out here"-"ok,ill be honest, im looking for some coke and ..."can i search your car"-"sure,i dont have anything in there"-5 minutes later"whats this kilo of coke doing in your trunk"-"thats not mine,i dont know how it got there,this is my girlfriends car"...you know the rest.if you get pulled over for speeding, act as you would if you didnt have 10K in your jeans.crack a few jokes and let them write the ticket so you can get to your next casino:)

Let me rephrase and expand a tad. I have no doubts that the system would in fact EVENTUALLY wind up vindicating my position. But I'm not sure that it would do that in a timely manner. Would not delay me for more than 15 minutes on the side of the road. Involve no trip to the nearest local PD, sheriff office, or state police post, and a possible overnight stay until I can get in front of a judge. Would not subsequently involve a tow and impound of my vehicle while I was taken there etc.

No there really are no receipts involved. You come to the door of my show, pay me a cash $5 entry fee and I give you a ticket on which you may or may not put your name and address for future event notice mailings.

It's my personal belief that allowing police and the courts to abuse personal property rights has become far too onerous. Siezing and auctioning vehicles, houses and other personal properties, sometimes with values far in excess of any perceived crime or fine that would be imposed.

Money seized is guilty. You have to prove it is innocent. This involves scheduling a court hearing (this would take months, not weeks), and naturally you would have to have hired a lawyer who knows all the ins-and-outs and how to file the paper work.

So you will be out your overnight jail time, bail, tow fee on the car, several months without your cash, and legal fees and court costs.
Finally, after proving your total lack of guilt, you will be returned your money with a sneer, and probably be on some cop's 'perps to hassle' list from then on, for 'getting away with it'.

Sorry, this isn't some fantasy, this is the result of years of the War on Drugs, and now the War on Terror.

if your paying taxes on most of your cash and have a 1040 to prove it,you would be fine.i would keep a copy of my 1040 from the last 2 years in the car at all times and a letter from your accountant stating what kind of business you are in and you SHOULD be fine.if you drive a lexus and the cop sees you only claimed 25k,you might have a problem.