Two travelers arriving from Havana have been handed over to Panama's Public Ministry after being caught with substantial amounts of undeclared cash at two of the country's airports, according to the National Customs Authority.
Significant Cash Discoveries in Airports
The first incident took place at the Panama Pacifico airport. During a joint inspection by Customs officials and National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) agents, a female passenger arriving from Cuba was found with $10,440 in cash in her carry-on luggage.
Upon examining the money, inspectors noted that four $100 bills showed irregularities on authenticity tests, raising suspicions of counterfeiting.
Undeclared Money at Tocumen International Airport
The second case occurred at Tocumen International Airport. A Cuban traveler, holding a Chilean passport and aged 52, claimed to be carrying only $1,000.
However, baggage scan images alerted agents to hidden items, prompting a more detailed inspection. This led to the discovery of $14,400 concealed in both the carry-on luggage and the traveler's clothing, money that had not been declared to authorities.
Both incidents have been referred to the Public Ministry for further investigation.
Panama's Legal Requirements and Past Incidents
Panamanian law requires all travelers to declare the entry or exit of amounts equal to or exceeding $10,000 through the Digital Traveler's Affidavit. Failure to comply may result in investigations for potential financial crimes, including money laundering.
These are not isolated occurrences. In November 2025, a 48-year-old Cuban was detained at Tocumen airport with $135,300 concealed in the false bottoms of two backpacks, having declared only $5,000.
That same month, two other Cuban women were held at the same terminal with $50,000 undeclared—$25,000 each—hidden during a body search, despite claiming they were not traveling together.
In January 2025, another Cuban citizen was found at Panama Pacifico with $25,000 hidden inside a book, and in August of that year, a 26-year-old Cuban was intercepted at the same airport with $12,000 undeclared.
In many of these cases, Cuban travelers held passports from other countries, such as Chile or Ecuador, a factor also noted in recent Panamanian investigations.
In Cuba, current laws limit the amount of foreign currency a person can take out of the country without specific authorization from the Central Bank to $5,000, a threshold below the amounts discovered by Panamanian authorities in these cases.
The National Customs Authority emphasized that these checks are intended to prevent financial crimes, enhance national security, and ensure travelers comply with customs regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions on Panama's Customs Regulations
What is the legal cash limit for travelers entering Panama?
Travelers must declare amounts equal to or greater than $10,000 when entering or leaving Panama.
What are the consequences of not declaring large sums of money in Panama?
Failing to declare such amounts can lead to investigations for financial crimes, including potential money laundering charges.
How does Cuban law compare to Panama regarding currency export limits?
Cuba's legal limit for taking foreign currency out of the country without special authorization is $5,000, which is lower than Panama's declaration requirement.