If you’re searching “How to get seized money back from the airport?”, you are likely dealing with one of the most stressful financial shocks of your life. Your cash was taken at Detroit Metropolitan Airport or another port of entry, and now you’re staring at confusing paperwork, impossible deadlines, and government agencies that do not feel particularly helpful.
At Dallo Law, P.C., we help clients across Michigan navigate exactly this situation. Understanding how to get seized money back from the airport? requires knowing the rules, the timelines, and the strategies that give you the strongest chance of recovering your funds.
Step 1: Understand Why Your Money Was Taken
To answer how to get seized money back from the airport?, you first need to identify the specific reason for the seizure:
- Suspected criminal connection (domestic travel):
Officers may claim your cash is linked to drugs, money laundering, or other illegal activity based on:
- The amount of cash you had
- Your travel itinerary
- A K9 “alert” near your luggage
- Your answers during questioning
- Alleged reporting violation (international travel):
If you were carrying more than $10,000 and CBP believes you did not properly declare it on the FinCEN Form 105, they may seize your funds as “unreported currency,” even if the money is legitimate.
Your seizure notice or CBP letter should identify the law being used and the agency involved. This is critical for planning your response.
Step 2: Identify Whether Your Case Is State or Federal
The process for how to get seized money back from the airport? depends on whether you are dealing with:
- Michigan state law (usually drug-related forfeiture)
When state or local agencies, such as airport police, seize money under Michigan’s controlled substances forfeiture laws (MCL 333.7521 et seq.), they must send a notice of seizure and intent to forfeit.
- If the seized property is worth $50,000 or less, you generally have 20 days to file a written claim with the seizing agency.
- Above $50,000, the case must go to court, and a judge will oversee the forfeiture proceedings.
- Federal law (CBP, HSI, DEA)
Federal seizures often involve alleged violations of Title 31 (currency reporting) or allegations of bulk cash smuggling. CBP will usually send a “Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants” and possibly a “Seized Asset Claim” form. You may have 35 days from the date on the letter to choose how to proceed.
An attorney can tell you very quickly which system you’re in and what your exact deadlines are.
Step 3: Act Before the Deadline, File a Claim
If you want to know how to get seized money back from the airport? in a practical sense, the key is this: do not miss the claim deadline.
- Under Michigan law:
You must deliver (not just mail) a written claim to the seizing agency within 20 days if the property is valued at $50,000 or less. If the claim arrives late, the government will argue you forfeited your right to contest the seizure. - Under federal law:
You can elect administrative options, but in many cases the strongest response is filing a verified claim that demands court action. Once your claim is accepted, the government generally has 90 days to file a forfeiture lawsuit in federal court or return your money.
Dallo Law can draft, file, and track these claims to ensure they are timely and legally compliant.
Step 4: Build a Strong Evidentiary Story
Knowing how to get seized money back from the airport? also involves presenting a credible, well-documented story about your funds:
We may work with you to collect:
- Bank statements and withdrawal records
- Business records, invoices, or contracts
- Proof of savings, property sales, or loans
- Travel plans and documentation showing the purpose of your trip
- Evidence that your funds came from legitimate sources
We also challenge weaknesses in the government’s case, including:
- The reliability of a K9 alert on currency
- The lack of any actual drugs or contraband
- Overly aggressive or coercive questioning
- Stops or searches that may not have been supported by reasonable suspicion
Step 5: Force the Government to Prove Its Case
When you follow the right procedure for how to get seized money back from the airport?, you can force the government to:
- File a forfeiture complaint in federal court or state court
- Produce evidence showing why your money should be forfeited
- Defend its actions before a judge, not just behind administrative forms
Rather than passively waiting for a decision from a seizing agency, we aim to put your case into a forum where legal standards and rules of evidence apply.
How Dallo Law Helps in Airport Cash Seizure Cases
Attorney J. Dallo brings extensive experience handling airport and border cash seizure cases, including those involving:
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
- Willow Run Airport (YIP)
- Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
- Ports of entry such as the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit–Windsor Tunnel
Our approach includes:
- Careful review of all notices and deadlines
- Requests for airport surveillance video and law enforcement records
- Filing of verified claims and motions
- Direct negotiations with government counsel where appropriate
- Litigation when necessary to protect your rights
Ready to Learn How to Get Seized Money Back from the Airport?
If you’re still asking “How to get seized money back from the airport?”, it’s time to get a plan in place. You have a narrow window to fight back before the government permanently keeps your money.
Call Dallo Law, P.C. at (248) 283-7000 to schedule a confidential consultation and discuss the best strategy for your situation.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently, and the application of law depends on the specific facts of each case. You should consult an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting Dallo Law, P.C. through this website or by phone does not create an attorney–client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until an attorney–client relationship has been established in a written agreement.
