Airport Cash Seizure & Asset Forfeiture Defense
Aggressive Defense Against Airport Cash Seizures and Civil Forfeiture
We represent clients whose money has been seized at airports throughout Michigan, including Wayne County (DTW), Oakland County, and Macomb County, as well as federal agencies operating in Michigan airports.
What Is an Airport Cash Seizure?
Key realities include:
- You do not need to be charged with a crime
- The case proceeds as a civil forfeiture, not a criminal prosecution
- The burden often shifts to the property owner to prove the money is legitimate
- Strict deadlines apply to contest the seizure
Failure to act quickly can result in permanent loss of funds.
How Airport Cash Seizures Are Carried Out
Seizures often occur during:
- TSA screenings
- Secondary airport inspections
- Questioning by narcotics task forces
- Federal agency “interdiction” operations
Agents rely on:
- Nervousness or inconsistent answers
- Travel patterns or destinations
- Use of cash rather than banks
- Canine alerts of questionable reliability
None of these factors alone proves criminal activity—but they are often treated as sufficient.
Civil Forfeiture vs. Criminal Charges
Airport cash seizure cases are fundamentally different from criminal cases:
- The money itself is treated as the defendant
- No conviction is required
- Criminal protections are limited
- Agencies financially benefit from forfeiture
This structure incentivizes seizures and discourages challenges—unless they are aggressively contested.
Deadlines and Immediate Action Requirements
Strict statutory deadlines govern civil forfeiture cases. Missing a filing deadline can forfeit your right to contest the seizure entirely.
Immediate legal action allows us to:
- Demand probable cause justification
- Force the government to produce evidence
- Challenge unlawful searches and questioning
- Preserve your claim to the seized funds
Time is the enemy in forfeiture cases.
Common Law Enforcement Tactics in Cash Seizure Cases
Agencies use predictable tactics to retain seized funds:
- Suggesting cash equals criminal conduct
- Pressuring travelers to waive rights
- Using vague or boilerplate reports
- Relying on canine alerts without reliability proof
We expose these tactics and force the government to meet its burden.
How We Fight Airport Cash Seizures
Our defense strategy is aggressive, procedural, and evidence-driven, including:
- Challenging the legality of the stop and search
- Contesting probable cause for seizure
- Attacking canine reliability and handler bias
- Demonstrating legitimate source and intended use of funds
- Litigating forfeiture proceedings to recover seized money
Many agencies return funds once challenged by experienced counsel.
Legitimate Cash Is Not a Crime
Carrying cash—for business, travel, family support, or personal reasons—is legal. Law enforcement assumptions do not override constitutional protections.
We routinely defend clients whose cash derives from:
- Business transactions
- Lawful savings
- Family or community support
- Cultural or international practices
The burden is on the government, not you, to justify seizure.
Immigration and International Travel Consequences
For non-citizens or international travelers, airport cash seizures can trigger:
- Immigration scrutiny
- Secondary inspections
- Travel delays or bans
- Visa complications
Defense strategy must consider both forfeiture law and immigration exposure.
What To Do If Your Cash Is Seized at an Airport
DO:
- Remain calm and assert your right to remain silent
- Request legal counsel immediately
- Obtain all seizure paperwork and receipts
DO NOT:
- Consent to questioning without a lawyer
- Sign waivers or forfeiture forms
- Assume the money will be returned automatically
- Miss response deadlines