HSI Cash Seizures for Forfeiture

Have you received a notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding property seized for forfeiture? Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operates under DHS and is staffed by agents, analysts, auditors, and support personnel who investigate crimes involving trade, travel, and organized criminal networks exploiting immigration systems.

HSI agents conduct cash seizures at airports, train terminals, bus stations, and roadside checkpoints across the U.S. These seizures are premised on “probable cause” that the money is tied to drug trafficking or money‑laundering—but often rely on circumstantial indicators, pulling innocent people into the process.

When HSI seizes cash, the case is transferred to a local FP&F (Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures) officer within Customs and Border Protection (CBP). One of the most effective methods to seek the return of your funds is to bypass CBP’s administrative remission or mitigation process altogether. Instead, hire an attorney to help you file a verified claim demanding court action, which is the only way to contest the seizure’s legality.

Once the verified claim is filed, it triggers a 90-day window. During this period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office must either return the funds or initiate a forfeiture lawsuit in federal court.

Attorney Assistance for HSI Forfeitures in Tampa, Florida

If HSI seized your U.S. currency or other property, contact a seasoned federal forfeiture attorney in Tampa, FL. Our firm has extensive experience with HSI and CBP airport seizures—including cases at Tampa International Airport and other locations across Florida and nationwide. We also collaborate with co-counsel across the country to handle these types of cases.

Let us put our expertise to work for you. Call us now at 813‑250‑0500.

Examples of HSI Investigations

HSI agents handle investigations enforcing numerous federal statutes, including:

• Bulk cash smuggling and money laundering offenses
• Cybercrimes
• Intellectual property theft
• Drug trafficking
• Weapons and firearms smuggling
• Export controls violations

HSI seizures are often based on probable cause that:

• The cash was furnished or intended as payment for drugs under the Controlled Substances Act;
• The funds are traceable to such transactions; or
• The currency was used—or intended to be used—to facilitate drug-related violations.

How HSI Uses Drug Detection Dogs

In many airport cases, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) uses narcotics detection dogs to alert on currency, even when no drugs are present. These dogs are trained to detect residues of specific controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine (HCl and base), heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA.

HSI’s theory is that people handling drugs may leave trace residues on cash or themselves—residues which then transfer to the money. Some courts completely reject this theory; others consider the dog’s and handler’s training and the totality of circumstances before attributing evidentiary weight to the alert.

Factors HSI Agents Assess in Airport Seizures

To establish probable cause during cash seizures, HSI agents consider factors including:

• The amount of cash carried
• The method of transport (e.g., how it’s packaged or concealed)
• Destination state risks (e.g., flying to marijuana source states)
• Ticket purchase behavior (e.g., one-way vs. round-trip, late booking)
• Whether a drug detection dog alerted to the cash
• Presence or absence of personal items in luggage
• Whether the claimant provided a plausible explanation for the funds and trip
• Evidence of legitimate income or tax filings
• Prior criminal history for drug or money-laundering offenses

This article was last updated on August 22, 2025.