Sheng-Ning-Hai

Officials of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized a large amount of unreported cash from the 'Sheng Ning Hai' in the port of Baltimore, during a routine inspection of the bulk carrier after its arrival in the Port of Baltimore on Jan 21, 2026. CBP conducted a routine enforcement boarding of the bulker after it reached the port. One element of these inspections is for the vessel’s captain to report to CBP officers how much currency the vessel was carrying. The master did not report any currency to CBP officers, although he had filed a report days earlier in Maine. Under the law, those entering and departing the United States may carry any amount of currency and other monetary instruments that they choose. However, any amounts over $10,000 must be reported on a U.S. Treasury Department Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments form.The master had filed a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 105 submission for $34,480 during an earlier port call in Searsport, Maine. Further, the officers learned that the vessel’s agent gave the master an additional $40,000 while in Maine. CBP officers returned to the vessel the following day and conducted a more thorough examination of all spaces. The officers discovered a total of $70,737 in the purser’s safe. The cash was seized from the ship due to the lack of a report. The vessel was released and left the port on Jan 22 enroute to Mombasa with an ETA as of Feb 25.