As I hear that this is happening more and more, I thought that it might be worthwhile to warn some of my readers who fly through Houston to get to Panama. It seems that this has now become standard operating procedure at the airport there. This in from a friend who told me of his ordeal a few weeks back.
“Don’t even think about bringing your cash with you.”
Good morning Tom,
I love your newsletter and look forward to every one. I have a ranch down in the Azuero about ten kilometers South of Torio. The reason I’m writing you is to tell you about an experience I had 2 weeks ago on my way to Panama. I was in the Houston airport and we were boarding the plane to Panama City. My ticket had been scanned at the gate and I was walking down the Jetway to board when I see these two Customs agents in uniform. They were asking each person how much money they were taking out of the country and what it was going to be used for. They asked them if they had over ten thousand dollars and everyone in front of me said no, but then they asked them well how much you have and if it was ok to verify that by looking through their carry on. As far as I could tell they didn’t actually go through anyone’s items until they got to me.
They asked me if I had ten thousand dollars or more and I said no. Then they asked me how much I did have and I said 6,500.00 and they said are you sure? I said it could be like 6,700.00 or so, but that’s within a hundred dollars. He took out a piece of paper and asked me to write down how much money I thought I had and then asked me to sign it. He then asked me to come with him off the Jetway to a private area where we were met by another agent. They asked me about twenty questions and made me empty my pockets and the contents of my backpack. They counted all my money and then wrote down the amount, my name passport number, address etc. on a form and told me I could go. At this point the plane is waiting for me and I am the last one to board and everyone was looking at me like I was a criminal.
I’m pretty sure now I am on a list and considered a person of interest for future flights. This hardly seems legal as I was well under the limit of funds you are allowed to take. I thought you may want to pass this along to your readers as a heads up. I’ve been to Panama 15 times now and this is the first incident like this I have ever had, but something tells me it won’t be the last.
The tentacles of Big Government reach further every day. It’s your money, you paid (way too much) taxes on it, but they still want more.
Hi Tom
My friend had the same at Houston marched off and last to join the plane.
From what I see their feathers are ruffled about us all leaving the US. I am sure it’s a premeditated stance being taken to put us and others off doing so.
Its for sure going to get worse as the country struggles to find its way (enough said)
On a personal note I am looking at moving down to the Torio area from Coronado.
Do you know of any say 1 hectare parcels with views of the sea for sale
Any help appreciated
Kevin
This happen to me in Dec of 2011. Same questions, do I have over $10K, said no, Well how much do I have? I said $2700, but wanted to say is it any of your business if I have under $10K, but wanted to be on the flight. I own the Palma Royale Hotel in Bocas and have made in excess of 40 flights to Panama. Have been twice since than, and the agents were not at the door of the plane. This whole this seemed quite alarming to me and now hearing others are having it done to them. I only see it getting worse.
i am not US citizen and in 2007 while in transit from Panama to Paris via Houston I was stopped by a custom officer on the jet-way and very rudely asked: “How much money do you have?” I asked for clarification what do you mean? with me or in my bank? I do not understand your question. He kept on repeating the same question without clarifying what he meant. After going back and forth he let me go probably because I was in a wheelchair. But there was no interest in the fact that I was in transit or not a citizen of the US. I found it most intrusive and very rude up to the point of stupid behavior.
Erik Slebos
Tom, as a US CBP Officer and a frequent traveler to Panama, i can tell you these agents were fully within the law to verify currency leaving the country. Any person, and their belongings is subject to search when leaving or entering the country. We do it all the time down here on the Arizona border. We are trying to stop illegal proceeds from leaving the US and going abroad (Mexico since i work on the border). As long as your are honest and declare the amount, nothing can happen to you. even bringing over $10,000 is legal, as long as you declare it.
I have had the same experience……!!
Although this is certainly an inconvenient and uncomfortable situation, I’m pretty sure the author isn’t on any kind of list. Over the past 15 years, I’ve probably flown into Panama over 100 times and most of the trips were through Houston. This same situation has happened to me twice, exactly as the writer describes. However, this is nothing new. This first time it happened was over 6 years ago and the last time it happened was around 3 years ago. Both times I was traveling alone and probably fit some kind of custom’s profile. The customs agent at the gate had me sign a form declaring the amount of money I had on my person and then proceeded to go through my carry on baggage and even made me turn my pockets inside out. On both occasions the amount of cash that I declared was almost exactly the amount I had so there were no further problems. I haven’t had any issues going through Houston since then. As an aside, I’ve traveled to Panama through other US cities (LA, NYC, Miami and Atlanta) and have never seen a customs agent at the gate looking for cash.
Readers should be aware that customs agents in Houston may be at the gate and you may be subject to additional searching and questions. However, I don’t think this process puts you on any kind of watch list.
One final observation. It is not illegal to leave the US with over $10,000 in cash. You can carry as much cash as you want. If you happen to be questioned, it is illegal not to declare this amount. The problem is in Panama. Although it’s not illegal to bring over $10,000 in cash (or other negotiable instruments) into Panama as long as you declare it, you better be real careful when you get into your taxi or drive your car away from the airport. The fact that you’re carrying a large amount of cash seems to find its way to people who would like to liberate you from your money.
Tom — I plan to avoid travelling to Panama via the US., especially going through Houston.. Better still fly over US direct to Mexico City or Europe or wherever. Anything to avoid the national paranoia…
Hi Tom
HI TOM
lets look at the picture here.
the guy had the cash …….. in his shoes… Hello Hello are we smart here?? probably NOT
Shoes go through the x ray machine and the cash shows up money is designed that way
Hello hello who puts money in their shoes?
normal folks have a purse or a wallet, those will also go through the machine but at least they are a normal place for cash.
So Do not put your cash in your shoes…
Also there are now cash sniffing dogs, they have more of those these days then pot sniffing dogs
So if you are legal, behave normal, put cash where it belongs and you probably will not get tagged by agents in the runway.
That be my opinion of your buddy’s adventures.
remember the Xray machines and remember the cash sniffing dogs.
BE LEGAL BE NORMAL
Out paranoying the paranoid does not work well.
Fucking government. Sorry for cussing, but damn I am sick of being controlled.