Sandy Ingram 

When you travel to or from the US, if you are traveling with an excess of $10,000 you must report it to a customs and border protection office…But there is no limit to the amount of money you can travel with...What happens if you do not declare that you are carrying more than $10,000?  The penalties may include confiscation of all currency or monetary instruments.  A fine of up to $500,000 and up to 10 years of imprisonment...When you declare the currency you are traveling with the IRS is notified if you are a US citizen.  If you are in a foreign country, sometimes professional thieves are notified.