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D.Minn.: TSA instigated cash seizure was without reasonable suspicion

By John Wesley Hall, Jr.

Claimant was relieved of $90,000 in cash at the MSP airport after TSA called the airport police. Claimant was preselected for a more intense screening on the issuance of the boarding pass [apparently “SSSS” on it]. The x-ray revealed an opaque object, so TSA opened the bag, finding the cash. TSA’s questions did not raise reasonable suspicion. The airport police took him away for questioning and that was without reasonable suspicion. TSA and the airport police found his story suspicious, but the court did not. The motion to suppress the cash is granted. A dog alert to the cash was well after the seizure [aside from being meaningless]. United States v. $90,000 in United States Currency, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31818 (D. Minn. March 31, 2010), USMJ R&R, United States v...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Amendment on April 03, 2010 (boomark / email).