Most countries have a cap at 10,000 USD (or foreign currency equivalent) for undeclared amounts of cash or other monetary assets, as amounts larger than that have to be declared upon travel. Crypto (like BTC or Monero) isn’t counted since it’s not considered as “valid currency” by the world bank.
The limit not only applies to cash since they count any assets worth of value (gold, checks, bonds, jewelery, artworks, luxury goods, high end electronics, etc). since those have been used and exploited for laundering money, I guess. So, even if he has 500 Rolexes fitted into suitcases worth over $100,000 will that still be taken?
It’s like if some one has 800 Chanel Handbags & 200 Hermès watches and mens footwear combined totalling to $50,000 in value stuffed onto mutiple huge suitcases and attempts to travel with that since huge stacks of cash will be flagged, so accessories are used to bring in money.
Depending on the countries, you might end up paying import taxes on that.
Exhibit A: https://time.com/6563886/arnold-schwarzenegger-watch-tax-customs-detention-climate-auction/
In certain scenarios I wouldn’t even be able to take my other phone or a tablet with me, because a lot of airports/customs consider only 1 phone as “essential” and not subject to any regulations.
That’s the key here. He was importing it. When you’re bringing multiple phones and laptops, you’re bringing them back with you, that’s a whole different story.
Depends on where you are from and where you are going. I’m struggling to find the page now, but Istanbul international airport only allows carrying 1 phone tax-free, for example.
Maybe they want vacationers to leave their work phones at home lol
I carry 2 phones, 2 laptops, a couple external hdds, etc. I’ve been asked about it by chinese customs once, but otherwise, a dozen crossings, almost half into China and nobody’s cared.
I hear Mexico is bad about this tho.