PHILADELPHIA — A CBP canine named Nitro helped officers seize more than $44,000 in hidden cash from a passenger preparing to board a flight to Cancun, Mexico, at Philadelphia International Airport on Wednesday, April 30.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, the 54-year-old traveler initially claimed he was carrying only $10,000. However, officers later discovered more than $44,000 concealed inside separate envelopes in the passenger’s carry-on bag after Nitro alerted authorities during an outbound enforcement inspection.

Why Was the Cash Seized?

Federal law does not limit how much cash travelers can carry into or out of the United States. However, travelers must report amounts exceeding $10,000 to the U.S. Treasury.

CBP officials said the passenger failed to properly declare the money and attempted to conceal the currency to evade federal reporting laws. Authorities seized the cash and later returned $240 before releasing the traveler.

“This traveler concealed currency in multiple locations for the purpose of evading federal currency reporting laws,” Acting Area Port Director Elliott Ortiz said in a statement.

CBP Says Currency Seizures Remain a Major Focus

Nitro, a three-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever trained to detect currency, firearms, and ammunition, played a key role in the airport cash seizure.

CBP said officers and agents seized an average of nearly $180,000 in unreported or illicit currency every day across U.S. borders during 2025, highlighting growing enforcement efforts tied to international travel and bulk cash smuggling investigations.