FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (CBS12) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport seized more than 100 iPhones from passengers attempting to leave the country without proper export documentation, according to federal officials.
In a social media post Monday, the Director of Field Operations for CBP in Florida said officers confiscated 106 iPhones during an outbound operation involving travelers headed to Guatemala. The devices were discovered during routine enforcement checks, and officials determined the passengers did not have the required paperwork to legally export the electronics.
“Planning to export iPhones? This is not the way to do it,” the agency wrote in the post, emphasizing that commercial goods are subject to strict export regulations, even when transported in passenger luggage.
CBP officials said visas associated with the passengers involved were submitted for revocation following the seizure, signaling potential immigration consequences in addition to the loss of the devices. Authorities did not release details about the passengers’ identities or the estimated value of the phones.
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Federal officials used the incident to remind travelers and businesses that exporting goods from the United States—particularly high-value electronics—requires compliance with U.S. export laws and proper documentation. CBP directed the public to Department of Homeland Security resources outlining how to legally export items.
The outbound enforcement operation is part of CBP’s broader efforts to prevent trade violations, smuggling, and other illicit activity at U.S. ports of entry and departure.